collection of 51 watercolors of scientific instruments
Date: 1770-1815
Inventory Number: 1998-1-1087
Classification: Illustration
Subject:
Maker: (instruments) John Cuthbertson (1743 - 1821)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
in box: 3 x 42 x 57.5 cm (1 3/16 x 16 9/16 x 22 5/8 in.)
Material:
Accessories: brown storage box, descriptive tag, thin strip of paper in box with the inscription "lucernal microscope" in David P. Wheatland's handwriting (which refers to figs. 47-48 and 51 in this series), page from the book "Old Science and Medicine" with a photographic copy of the first print from this series, entitled "The Large Electric Machine at Haarlem."
DescriptionThis is a series of 51 watercolor images of various scientific instruments designed by the British instrument maker John Cuthbertson (1743-1821). There are many annotations describing these instruments and their function, which are inscribed on both the back and front of these images in pen and pencil in different languages (mostly French, Spanish, and English). Most of these instruments are air pumps, "magic air lamps," optical devices (a prismatic glass eye mounted on a board, microscopes), and a few compasses. At the very end of this series, there are two handwritten pages that describe "how to use the magic air lamp" and one handwritten page entitled "description of the magic air lamp." There is an accompanying tag that claims that these instruments include: "7 microscopes, 3 telescopes, 9 electrical apparati/air pumps, 8 balances, and 14 other instruments."
The first, third, and fourth images in this series represent a giant, double-plate electrostatic generator, which made Cuthbertson famous. He produced this machine for the Dutchman Martinus van Marum (1750-1837). Cuthbertson's machine produced 3/4 million volts and its spectacular effects were noted, as "persons within 10 feet of the plates experienced sort of a creeping sensation over them, as if surrounded by a spider's web." The first image presents a view of the electrostatic generator from the side, and the third and fourth images both present a view from the back with a battery composed of Leiden jars.
The first sheet is inscribed in Spanish in the back: "Gran Maquina Electrica y Bateria del Museo de Harlem 2".
The third sheet (one with the large battery) is inscribed in Spanish in the back: "Gran Maquina Electrica y Bateria Museo de Harlem 1".
The second image is a 25-foot Newtonian telescope constructed for Mr. Shroeter.
The fifth image is a model of an inclined plane.
The sixth image is a pulley demonstration with a fountain.
Figure 7 is a composite scale, with a balance and scales in the middle and two pulley frames showing various pulley-block systems above and below.
Figure 8 is an air pump, which includes an "American air valve."
Figure 9 through 12 (all of same sheet) are representations of a prismatic glass eye mounted on a board with an arrow and colored light beams at the end. This set of images designates what happens in cases of nearsightedness and farsightedness.
This sheet is inscribed in the back in pencil in Spanish: "modelos del ojo en tres diferentes estados etc."
Figure 13 is a set of pulleys and balances. Above, there are three balances with brass weights. Below, there is a pulley frame, showing six different pulley-block systems.
Figure 14 is an Atwood Fall Machine, for experiments on the laws of motion. The Cambridge mathematician, George Atwood, invented this machine ca. 1780 to show the laws of motion either accelerated or retarded and these machines usually stand on a pillar with a cord looping over a pulley and a pendulum clock at the side for counting seconds. the disk weights pass through rings which allow additional bar weights to be added or taken off as the disk weights pass. The upper part of this image is a close-up detail of the top of the Atwood Fall Machine below.
Figure 15 is a so-called "magic air lamp."
This sheet is inscribed in the back: "Lampara electrica segun la descripcion adjunta".
Figure 16 is a hydraulic demonstration with a device consisting of inclined tubes filled with water and spheres, and also a centrifuge. The spheres are called "spirit beads," or "philosophical bubbles," and they are weighted in such a way that they do not rise or sink in the liquid that matches their particular calibration and indicates their degree of proof spirit.
Figures 17 and 18 are generators.
Figure 19 is an immersion/hydraulic experiment with a glass bulb.
Figure 20 is a wagon and an upside-down wagon with close-up details that emphasize the wheels.
Figure 21 is an unidentified instrument with tiny vats of water that appear to give off steam, positioned beneath a long, rectangular body. The uppermost image is an enlarged detail of part of the machine below.
Figures 22 and 23 represent pulley and gears, and figure 23 also represents the rotation of the globe.
Figure 24 depicts a series of balances and measures.
Figure 25 is an arrangement of weights that shows how forces exerted on weights depends on the angle.
Figure 26 shows a series of instrument parts and a scale at the bottom alongside a fountain.
Figure 27 is an unidentified instrument.
Figure 28 is a "compass lever to be explained."
Figures 29 and 30 are unidentified instruments.
Figure 31 is a hydraulic experiment
Figure 32 appears to be two sets of hydraulic pumps flanking a water well with two diagrams below that illustrate the mechanisms above.
Figure 33-36 represent different types of air pumps, hydraulic pumps, and "magic air lamps." There are many tiny animals, props, and devices placed in several of the air pumps, such as tiny cameo portraits of women, feathers, glass Cartesian divers shaped like men, and a small bird.
Figure 37 is another air pump, which Cuthbertson has labeled as a "Pneumatica Americana"
Figure 38 depicts many air pump parts, possibly close-up details from figure 37.
This sheet is inscribed on the back in Spanish: "Maquina pneumatica perfeccionada segun la Descripcion de Cuthberson adjunta 3".
Figure 39 depicts weights and balances, and is described as Adams' Hydrostatic Balance.
This sheet is inscribed on the back in Spanish: "Balanza hidrostatica de Adams (en el caxon MRCC), para usarla quando no sea necesaria toda la exactitud que ofrece la de Troughton, segun el metodo de Ramsden embiada[?] en el caxon DGTM cuyo excelente instrumento se conserva con el mayor cuidado. Su descripcion fue remitida con otras varias al Ministerio de Hacienda en Abril de 1798."
Figure 40 is a "variation compass."
Figure 41 is an electrical generator.
Figure 42 is marked in pencil: "Variation compass".
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Aguja de Inclinacion 2"
Figure 43 is a close-up version of the disembodied hands operating the device in figure 42. It is marked in pencil: "Variation compass 2"
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Aguja de Inclinacion 1"
Figure 44 is an air pump with a thermometer, signed with Cuthbertson's name at the base. Two wrenches have been placed nearby.
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Maquina pneumatica perfeccionada segun la Descripcion de Cuthberson adjunta 1"
Figure 45 is an electrical machine.
Figure 46 is another air pump with Cuthbertson's signature at the base.
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Maquina pneumatica perfeccionada segun la Descripcion de Cuthberson adjunta 2"
Figures 47 and 48 are two views of an optical device called a "lucernal microscope," according to a tag written by David Wheatland.
Figure 49 represents a series of air pumps.
Figure 50 is a variation compass.
Figure 51 is another lucernal microscope.
Figure 52 is a series of lenses, specimens, and pen nibs, possibly with microscope parts.
Figures 53-55 are microscopes.
Figure 56 is a two page, handwritten document entitled "How to use the Magic Air Lamp.". It is pages 2 and 3 of figure 57.
Figure 57 is a handwritten document entitled "Description of the Magic Air Lamp."
The first, third, and fourth images in this series represent a giant, double-plate electrostatic generator, which made Cuthbertson famous. He produced this machine for the Dutchman Martinus van Marum (1750-1837). Cuthbertson's machine produced 3/4 million volts and its spectacular effects were noted, as "persons within 10 feet of the plates experienced sort of a creeping sensation over them, as if surrounded by a spider's web." The first image presents a view of the electrostatic generator from the side, and the third and fourth images both present a view from the back with a battery composed of Leiden jars.
The first sheet is inscribed in Spanish in the back: "Gran Maquina Electrica y Bateria del Museo de Harlem 2".
The third sheet (one with the large battery) is inscribed in Spanish in the back: "Gran Maquina Electrica y Bateria Museo de Harlem 1".
The second image is a 25-foot Newtonian telescope constructed for Mr. Shroeter.
The fifth image is a model of an inclined plane.
The sixth image is a pulley demonstration with a fountain.
Figure 7 is a composite scale, with a balance and scales in the middle and two pulley frames showing various pulley-block systems above and below.
Figure 8 is an air pump, which includes an "American air valve."
Figure 9 through 12 (all of same sheet) are representations of a prismatic glass eye mounted on a board with an arrow and colored light beams at the end. This set of images designates what happens in cases of nearsightedness and farsightedness.
This sheet is inscribed in the back in pencil in Spanish: "modelos del ojo en tres diferentes estados etc."
Figure 13 is a set of pulleys and balances. Above, there are three balances with brass weights. Below, there is a pulley frame, showing six different pulley-block systems.
Figure 14 is an Atwood Fall Machine, for experiments on the laws of motion. The Cambridge mathematician, George Atwood, invented this machine ca. 1780 to show the laws of motion either accelerated or retarded and these machines usually stand on a pillar with a cord looping over a pulley and a pendulum clock at the side for counting seconds. the disk weights pass through rings which allow additional bar weights to be added or taken off as the disk weights pass. The upper part of this image is a close-up detail of the top of the Atwood Fall Machine below.
Figure 15 is a so-called "magic air lamp."
This sheet is inscribed in the back: "Lampara electrica segun la descripcion adjunta".
Figure 16 is a hydraulic demonstration with a device consisting of inclined tubes filled with water and spheres, and also a centrifuge. The spheres are called "spirit beads," or "philosophical bubbles," and they are weighted in such a way that they do not rise or sink in the liquid that matches their particular calibration and indicates their degree of proof spirit.
Figures 17 and 18 are generators.
Figure 19 is an immersion/hydraulic experiment with a glass bulb.
Figure 20 is a wagon and an upside-down wagon with close-up details that emphasize the wheels.
Figure 21 is an unidentified instrument with tiny vats of water that appear to give off steam, positioned beneath a long, rectangular body. The uppermost image is an enlarged detail of part of the machine below.
Figures 22 and 23 represent pulley and gears, and figure 23 also represents the rotation of the globe.
Figure 24 depicts a series of balances and measures.
Figure 25 is an arrangement of weights that shows how forces exerted on weights depends on the angle.
Figure 26 shows a series of instrument parts and a scale at the bottom alongside a fountain.
Figure 27 is an unidentified instrument.
Figure 28 is a "compass lever to be explained."
Figures 29 and 30 are unidentified instruments.
Figure 31 is a hydraulic experiment
Figure 32 appears to be two sets of hydraulic pumps flanking a water well with two diagrams below that illustrate the mechanisms above.
Figure 33-36 represent different types of air pumps, hydraulic pumps, and "magic air lamps." There are many tiny animals, props, and devices placed in several of the air pumps, such as tiny cameo portraits of women, feathers, glass Cartesian divers shaped like men, and a small bird.
Figure 37 is another air pump, which Cuthbertson has labeled as a "Pneumatica Americana"
Figure 38 depicts many air pump parts, possibly close-up details from figure 37.
This sheet is inscribed on the back in Spanish: "Maquina pneumatica perfeccionada segun la Descripcion de Cuthberson adjunta 3".
Figure 39 depicts weights and balances, and is described as Adams' Hydrostatic Balance.
This sheet is inscribed on the back in Spanish: "Balanza hidrostatica de Adams (en el caxon MRCC), para usarla quando no sea necesaria toda la exactitud que ofrece la de Troughton, segun el metodo de Ramsden embiada[?] en el caxon DGTM cuyo excelente instrumento se conserva con el mayor cuidado. Su descripcion fue remitida con otras varias al Ministerio de Hacienda en Abril de 1798."
Figure 40 is a "variation compass."
Figure 41 is an electrical generator.
Figure 42 is marked in pencil: "Variation compass".
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Aguja de Inclinacion 2"
Figure 43 is a close-up version of the disembodied hands operating the device in figure 42. It is marked in pencil: "Variation compass 2"
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Aguja de Inclinacion 1"
Figure 44 is an air pump with a thermometer, signed with Cuthbertson's name at the base. Two wrenches have been placed nearby.
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Maquina pneumatica perfeccionada segun la Descripcion de Cuthberson adjunta 1"
Figure 45 is an electrical machine.
Figure 46 is another air pump with Cuthbertson's signature at the base.
This sheet is inscribed in the back in Spanish: "Maquina pneumatica perfeccionada segun la Descripcion de Cuthberson adjunta 2"
Figures 47 and 48 are two views of an optical device called a "lucernal microscope," according to a tag written by David Wheatland.
Figure 49 represents a series of air pumps.
Figure 50 is a variation compass.
Figure 51 is another lucernal microscope.
Figure 52 is a series of lenses, specimens, and pen nibs, possibly with microscope parts.
Figures 53-55 are microscopes.
Figure 56 is a two page, handwritten document entitled "How to use the Magic Air Lamp.". It is pages 2 and 3 of figure 57.
Figure 57 is a handwritten document entitled "Description of the Magic Air Lamp."
Signedwithin prints: John Cuthbertson
Inscribedon second image at the top: TELESCOPIO NEUTONIANO DE 25 PIES DE LARGO CONSTRUIDO POR MR. SCHROETER
on thin strip of paper in box (in David P. Wheatland's handwriting): microscope/ Cuthbertson/ lucernal microscope (vignette).
on thin strip of paper in box (in David P. Wheatland's handwriting): microscope/ Cuthbertson/ lucernal microscope (vignette).