General Information

Serial #

2083

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

GLASS DISC/ METAL (BRASS?) CONSTRUCTION/ CW SOLID WOOD BOX, HAVING BRASS & IRON FITTINGS; SOME AREAS OF INTERIOR LINED WITH VELVET

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

27.2 cm

Width

16.5 cm

Height

12.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Exploration and Survey

Category

Instrument testing equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Fauth

Country

United States of America

State/Province

District of Columbia

City

Washington

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

AFTER C. 1885. DOMINION OBSERVATORY OPERATED C. 1905-1970. NRC MAY HAVE USED THE SPHEROMETER FOLLOWING 1970

Canada

PRECISION MEASURING DEVICE USED AT DOMINION OBSERVATORY, OTTAWA (C.1905-1970). THIS SPHEROMETER MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON A VARIETY OF ASTRONOMY, SURVEYAND/OR METROLOGY INSTRUMENTS EMPLOYED THERE. PRESUMABLY IT WAS ALSO USED BY NRC, FROM WHOM THE MUSEUM ACQUIRED THIS SPHEROMETER.

Function

TO MEASURE THE CURVATURE OF SOLID SPHERICAL SURFACES, EITHER CONVEX OR CONCAVE. IT IS USED TO MEASURE THE INEQUALITY OF PIVOTS (POSTS OR TRUNNIONS ON WHICH A VARIETY OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS REST), AND TO MEASURE THE CURVATURE OF LENSES.

Technical

MORE RELIABLE & EASIER TO USE THAN A CONTACT LEVEL, THE SPHEROMETER IS AN EXTREMELY ACCURATE MEASURING INSTRUMENT. WEAR OF MOUNTINGS ON A VARIETY OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (IE. TRANSITS, THEODOLITES, LEVELS, TELESCOPES, ETC.) WILL PRODUCE ERRORS IN READINGS: THESE INSTRUMENTS MUST BE CHECKED REGULARLY FOR SUCH WEAR * CONT

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

'FAUTH & CO./ NO. 2083/ WASHN ('N' UNDERLINED) D.C.' STAMPED INTO METAL BENEATH GLASS DISC, AND HIGHLIGHTED WITH WHITE/ 'DOM.OBS 174' STAMPED INTO BASE/ 'DOM.OBS./ 174' INCISED IN LID OF BOX

Missing

THREE-LEGGED TRIVET WITH MICROMETER SCREW/ ONE LATCH MISSING FROM CASE

Finish

TOP & BOTTOM PANELS, CROSS-PIECE & PERFORATED INSIDE-FRAME HAVE BEEN BLUED. SCREWS & CYLINDRICAL SIDE PIECES HAVE BEEN PLATED & LACQUERED/ BOX IS STAINED; RED VELVET LINING COVERS SOME AREAS INSIDE BOX

Decoration

N/A