Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Historical Scientific Instruments
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Do you know what these instruments are? The Division of Historical Scientific Instruments welcomes information on the following items in its collection.

 

If you can provide details or documentation on how any of these instruments were used or its history, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at 203.432.9677 or shae-trewin@yale.edu.

Alcohol Lamp

 

YPM catalog no. 30.7

 

Length (glass body): 5.25 inches (13 centimeters).
Glass, cork and wool.
Maker and origin unknown; no signature or inscription.

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

“Cell”

YPM catalog no. 5.1242

 

Length (outer body): 4.6 inches (12 centimeters).
Length (inner tubes): maximum of 7.5 inches (20 centimeters).
Diameter (outer body):: 3.5 inches (9 centimeters).
Stone, iron. Inner tube is badly corroded.

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

Telescope

 

Length 30.5 inches (77 centimeters).
Diameter 2 inches (5 centimeters); eye piece diameter 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters).
Leather, brass and glass.

Maker and origin unknown; no maker’s mark except for an inscription inside the cap (see inset).

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

0.01 Ohms.
Leeds & Northrup Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Height 6.25 inches (15.88 centimeters)
Diameter 3.5 inches (8.9 centimeters)

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

Maxwell’s Top?

 

Brass.

Height 5 inches (13 centimeters)
Diameter 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters)

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

Metal Clamp

Metal clamp with brass screw and maker’s stamp (inset).

Length 8 inches (20 centimeters)
Height 3.75 inches (9.53 centimeters)
Width 3.25 inches (8.26 centimeters)

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

Woodcut Stamp

 

YPM catalog no. 29.2

 

Woodcut stamp illustrating a chemistry experiment.

Length 4 inches (10.2 centimeters)
Width 2 inches (5 centimeters)
Depth 1 inch (2.5 centimeters)

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.

Wooden Sphere

 

Wooden sphere with central hole from end to end.

Diameter 6 inches (15 centimeters)

To provide information on this instrument, contact Collections Manager Shae Trewin at shae-trewin@yale.edu or 203.432.9677.


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