quartz spectrograph

Date: 1913-1920

Inventory Number: 2005-1-0018

Classification: Spectrograph

Subject:

chemistry, physics, spectroscopy,

Maker: Adam Hilger Ltd. (1874 - 1948)

Cultural Region:

England,

Place of Origin:

London,

Dimensions:

43.5 x 145 x 19.7 cm (17 1/8 x 57 1/16 x 7 3/4 in.)

Material:

wood, brass,

Description:

Lenses of 61 cm focus, the instrument gives a spectrum from 210 uu to 800 uu of about 20 cm long. The prism (intact here) is 4.1 cm high x 6.5 cm on the long face. Size of the photographic plate is 10x4 inches. The slit is a Hilger No. 2. The dispersing system consists of one Cornu prism. There is a vertical motion by rack and pinion to the dark slide, with scale, whereby a number of exposures can be taken one below the other. Original price: 58 pounds 15 shillings (in 1913) (description from 1913 trade catalogue)

Signedon instrument: ADAM HILGER Ltd LONDON, ENGLAND

Inscribedon plastic dymotype: PHYSICS 191-192

FunctionThis spectrograph has a quartz prism and lens. It has been carefully designed with the following objects in view: 1) To be in permanent adjustment 2) To give the whole spectrum from 200 uu to 800 uu on one plate 3)To give good definition over the whole spectrum on the ordinary photographic plate 4) To give as large an amount of light as is consistent with the above conditions, thus enabling spectrograms to be taken with relatively short exposures. (taken from 1913 trade catalogue)

Curatorial RemarksThough not inscribed on the instrument, it is undoubtedly a Hilger size c model. This model will become later (around 1920) the E2 model.

Primary SourcesAdam Hilger, A General Catalogue of the Manufactures of Adam Hilger (London, 1913).