copper hydrometer
Date: 1820-1850
Inventory Number: 1998-1-0270
Classification: Hydrometer
Subject:
Maker: American
User: Department of Physics, Bowdoin College (founded after 1794)
Cultural Region:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
3.5 x 24.5 cm (1 3/8 x 9 5/8 in.)
box: 5 x 25.4 x 5.2 cm (1 15/16 x 10 x 2 1/16 in.)
Accessories: wooden box with red fabric lining; extra weights
Description:
A hydrometer consisting of an egg-shaped copper bulb, with a metal rod that has a weight at its end attached to the blunter end of the bulb, and a wooden stem marked with a scale fixed at its sharper end. The scale on the stem goes from 20 at the far end, to 70 close to the bulb.
Signedunsigned
FunctionMeasures the density of liquids. One can modify its range by placing more weights (from the box) on the weighted metal rod.
Historical AttributesLabelled: "Used for teaching at Bowdoin College, probably during Parker Cleveland's time." From 1820 until his death in 1858, Professor Parker Cleveland gave an annual course of lectures on chemistry to the medical students at Bowdoin. He was a professor of chemistry.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Bowdoin College.