glass alcoholometer
Date1820-1850
Inventory Number4455
ClassificationAlcoholometer
Subject
Maker
German
Cultural Region
Dimensions2 x 44 x 2 cm (13/16 x 17 5/16 x 13/16 in.)
case: 2 x 48 x 2 cm (13/16 x 18 7/8 x 13/16 in.)
case: 2 x 48 x 2 cm (13/16 x 18 7/8 x 13/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriescarrying case
DescriptionA long glass tube with a pointed bulb at one end filled with mercury. Its upper two thirds are thinner that the lower third, which contains a thermometer inside with a scale going from -11 to 11. The temperature scale appears to be taken from the Réaumur scale. The thermometer seems to use the same mercury that weighs the hydrometer down.
The upper part of the tube contains another scale, in three different units, one from 0 to 100 R (Richter, weight percentage), another from 0 to 44 C (Cartier) and a third from 0 to 100 Tr (Tralles, volume percentage).
There seems to be some water vapor inside the main tube.
It is contained in a brown marbled cylindrical cardboard case with a blue inner surface.
The upper part of the tube contains another scale, in three different units, one from 0 to 100 R (Richter, weight percentage), another from 0 to 44 C (Cartier) and a third from 0 to 100 Tr (Tralles, volume percentage).
There seems to be some water vapor inside the main tube.
It is contained in a brown marbled cylindrical cardboard case with a blue inner surface.
Signedunsigned
Inscribedon instrument: Alkoholometer, nach Richter Tralles und Cartier temp 0 - 12½° Rr
thermometer marked: Fur jeden Grad uber Onied 1 pr. cr. ab und fur jeden unter onird 1 pr. ct. zugerechnet n. Richler.
top of tube marked 2.25/ 50/ with label somewhat damaged.
FunctionThis is a hydrometer for testing the proof strength of alcohol that gives readings in three different units: Cartier, Richter and Tralles. The last two were the standard used by the German and American governments.
A glass jar would be filled with the spirit and then the alcoholometer would be put in. The alcohol percentage would be indicated by the point reached by the liquid's surface on the hydrometer's scale.
Temperature changes the density of the liquid leading to inaccuracies, and to avoid it this hydrometer includes a thermometer that instead of a reading in units of temperature, gives out a correction factor to be applied to the hydrometer's Richter scale.
A glass jar would be filled with the spirit and then the alcoholometer would be put in. The alcohol percentage would be indicated by the point reached by the liquid's surface on the hydrometer's scale.
Temperature changes the density of the liquid leading to inaccuracies, and to avoid it this hydrometer includes a thermometer that instead of a reading in units of temperature, gives out a correction factor to be applied to the hydrometer's Richter scale.
German
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: cylindrical cardboard case with a pattern of brown and yellow flowers
Object number: DW0793
J. F. Luhme & Cie.
Date: 1850-1870
Accessories: carrying case
Object number: 4456
Cambridge Instrument Company, Inc.
Date: circa 1940
Object number: 1996-1-0304
Friez Instrument Division, Bendix Aviation Corporation
Date: circa 1956
Accessories: one used Taylor Instrument Companies paper chart and cardboard box; recording charts, Air Ministry, Meteorological Office, Form 4213, Barogram (18); one used "Self Recording Thermometer" chart. Richard Brothers Manu. PS Paris. "Blue-hill Meteorological Observatory"; one set of "Instructions for the Installation of Charts", Bendix Aviation Corporation, Friez Instrument Division, Baltimore 4, Maryland; Friez I.B. No. 165/Friez Part No. 509673-B
Object number: 1996-1-0190b
R. G. Greiner
Date: circa 1850
Accessories: black cylindrical cardboard case
Object number: DW0792
Henry J. Green
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: cardboard box
Object number: 1998-1-1271b
Carl G. Barth
Date: circa 1910
Object number: 1990-5-0019
Carl G. Barth
Date: circa 1910
Object number: 1990-5-0018
Carl G. Barth
Date: circa 1910
Object number: 1990-5-0017