Beckmann thermometer
Date1890-1910
Inventory Number4438
ClassificationThermometer
Subject
Maker
American
?
Maker
German
?
User
Theodore Lyman IV
1874 - 1954
User
Percy Williams Bridgman
1882 - 1961
User
Edwin H. Hall
1855 - 1938
Cultural Region
Place of Use
Dimensions55.3 x 2.1 cm (21 3/4 x 13/16 in.)
case: 64.7 x 3.2 cm (25 1/2 x 1 1/4 in.)
case: 64.7 x 3.2 cm (25 1/2 x 1 1/4 in.)
Material
Accessoriescylindrical cardboard case with green inner surface
DescriptionA thermometer consisting of a glass tube with a mercury capillary enclosed in an outer glass tube sealed with a silver or brass cap. The lower part of the thermometer that leads to the mercury bulb is thin and unmarked, with the upper section containing a milk glass scale calibrated from -0.6 to 6.2 degrees Celsius with a precision of 1/100 of a degree. The mercury capillary makes an S-bend near the top of the thermometer and is also calibrated, from 100 to 0.
Its scales have been retouched by hand.
Its scales have been retouched by hand.
Signedscale marked on back: $ [and] of Beckmann
Inscribedlabel on case: "Broken by KPH Roupler July 1915" used by Lyman Hall or Bridgman, from Lyman Lab Oct. 13, 1963.
FunctionThis is a thermometer that the user can fill with different amounts of mercury to use at different temperature ranges. It is extremely precise but because of this it has a narrow range of 6.8 degrees Celsius. To set it up for use, the thermometer would be placed in contact with a substance a few degrees above the upper required limit of temperature, and enough mercury would then be poured in so that the stem filled up to the s-bend. That way, the thermometer would have a range up to that temperature.
This particular one was used in physics experiments at Harvard.
This particular one was used in physics experiments at Harvard.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Lyman Laboratory, Harvard University.
Corning
Date: 1900-1920
Accessories: black cardboard case with green inner surface
Object number: 4406
Bender und Hobein
Date: 1900-1930
Accessories: black cylindrical cardboard case with red inner surface (top missing)
Object number: 4433
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1920
Accessories: black cardboard case with green inner surface
Object number: 4399
Robert Bötze
Date: 1880-1920
Accessories: brass cylindrical case with square flange near top
Object number: 4425
German
Date: 1890-1920
Accessories: black cardboard case with red inner surface
Object number: 4398
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1920
Accessories: black cardboard case with red inner surface
Object number: 4397
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1920
Accessories: black cardboard case with marbled paper inner surface
Object number: 4407
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1920
Accessories: brass cap with knob at top; black cardboard case with red inner surface
Object number: 4400
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: green cardboard case
Object number: 4389
Dr. H. Geissler, Nachfolger Franz Müller
Date: 1890-1910
Accessories: black cardboard case with red inner surface
Object number: 4381
Fritz Köhler
Date: 1900-1920
Accessories: black cylindrical cardboard case with red inner surface
Object number: 4435