Melloni optical bench with accessories
Date: 1860-1875
Inventory Number: 2006-1-0013
Classification: Optical Bench
Attributed to: Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff (1803 - 1877)
User: Department of Physics, Harvard University (founded 1884)
User: Radcliffe College ? (1894 - 1999)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
16.5 × 90 × 24 cm (6 1/2 × 35 7/16 × 9 7/16 in.)
Description:
Optical bench with four leveling feet and drawer that goes underneath for the storage of various accessories for conducting optical and radiant heat experiments. The accessories comprise prisms, lenses, adjustable slit, Nicol prism, condensers, mirrors and supporting rods. The horizontal bar is missing.
A small white painted "R" by the drawer pull and on the top of the bench mount may indicate it was used at Radcliffe College, but could also stand for radiant heat. The drawer also bears two old Harvard inventory numbers: "20 19" and "8.14.1". These are typical of the Physics Department.
A small white painted "R" by the drawer pull and on the top of the bench mount may indicate it was used at Radcliffe College, but could also stand for radiant heat. The drawer also bears two old Harvard inventory numbers: "20 19" and "8.14.1". These are typical of the Physics Department.
Signedunsigned
Inscribedin paint on drawer and bench top: R
on oval sticker: 20 19
on oval sticker: 8.14.1
on oval sticker: 20 19
on oval sticker: 8.14.1
Historical AttributesUsed in the Harvard Physics Department.
ProvenanceHarvard Department of Physics; transfer to CHSI.