This digital collection features selected scientific instruments, apparatus, and analytical tools from the Institute's museum as well as photographs, rare-book engravings, and illustrations depicting various types of equipment and machinery found in laboratories, manufacturing plants, and mechanical treatises. Inventions from book wheels to fireballs can be found here, alongside more modern innovations such as Gammacells and Geiger counters.
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6 items
44/54 Darmstadt logarithmic slide rule belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- 1950s
Wooden slide rule belonging to molecular biologist, Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), used to calculate logarithmic functions.
Frankin's initials, R. E. F., are written on the right-hand side of the rule.
- Manufacturer Faber-Castell (Firm)
- Subject Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958, Slide-rule, Logarithms, Logarithmic functions, Molecular biology
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4 items
Vacuum desiccator belonging to Rosalind Franklin
- After 1940 – before 1958
Glass chamber for dehydrating samples over a desiccant chemical. Desiccant crystals remain in the bottom lobe of the device. A valve on the side of the upper lobe allows a vacuum to be attached. After being used by…
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3 items
Gilbert "Cloud Chamber"
- 1951
The Gilbert "Cloud Chamber" is part of the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory, which was a toy laboratory set marketed towards children. The cloud chamber allowed the user to view alpha particles traveling 12,000…
- Manufacturer A.C. Gilbert Company
- Subject A.C. Gilbert Company, Nuclear energy, Electricity, Electrochemistry, Cloud chamber
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2 items
Electron Capture Detector
- 1957
The electron capture detector (ECD) was invented by Dr. James Lovelock (1919-2022) in 1957. ECDs detect molecules in gas via electron capture ionization and are used in gas chromatography to detect traces of chemicals…
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6 items
Graphic Periodic Selector of the Elements
- 1959
The Graphic Periodic Selector of the Elements visually demonstrates the periodicity of the elements. A single setting of the slide will simultaneously illustrate the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus of the…
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41 items
Makers of Modernity: Members of the Pittcon Hall of Fame
- 2005
Publication highlighting the members of the Pittcon Hall of Fame. Each of these scientific instrument makers has been awarded the Pittcon Heritage Award for making vital contributions to the field of instrumentation.…
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7 items
Oral history interview with David M. Hercules
- 2002-Mar-20
David M. Hercules begins his interview by discussing his childhood and education. He describes his youth in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and his childhood curiosity with science. When he was in high school, he continued to…
- Interviewee Hercules, David M.
- Interviewer Daemmrich, Arthur, Brock, David C.
- Subject Hercules, David M., Lehigh University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Electron spectroscopy, University of Georgia, Business consultants, Catalysis, University of Pittsburgh, Mass spectrometry, Spectrum analysis, Chemical apparatus, Chemists
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3M 51S
Hercules Powder Company tree stump handling in Brunswick, Georgia
- 1920 – 1940
Silent footage of Hercules Powder Company processing tree stumps at their Brunswick, Georgia plant for use in their cellulose products. Footage shows stumps being removed from railroad cars by crane and dropped into…
- Creator Of Work Hercules Powder Company
- Subject Cellulose industry, Hercules Powder Company, Chemical industry, Naval stores industry, Cranes, derricks, etc., Machinery
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18M 23S
Hercules Powder Company Woods Camp pine stump gathering
- 1920 – 1940
Silent footage of tree stump removal being done by Hercules Powder Company at an unknown location, likely in the southeastern United States. These stumps were removed using machinery and then transferred to a Hercules…
- Creator Of Work Hercules Powder Company
- Subject Hercules Powder Company, Cellulose industry, Tree stump removal, Machinery
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3 items
Metrohm E 1009 Spectrocolorimeter
- 1963
A spectrocolorimeter is a form of spectrophotometer that can calculate tristimulus values, or the the light intensity of primary color values in a sample.
- Manufacturer Metrohm AG
- Subject Colorimetry, Spectrophotometry, Colors, Spectrum analysis
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4 items
Osterland Blowpipe Analysis Kit
- Circa 1870
A wooden case containing glass, ivory, and wooden analytical apparatus, including blowpipes. A blowpipe refers to one of several tools used to direct streams of gases into a working media. In chemistry, blowpipes have…
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2 items
Microscope
- Circa 1890
A brass microscope with two objective lenses.
- Creator Of Work James W. Queen & Company
- Subject Microscopy, Microscopes, Scientific apparatus and instruments
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5 items
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS) Tube
- 1954
This spectrometer tube was designed and built at RCA laboratories, Princeton, NJ in 1954 by Dr. Richard E. Honig (1917-2001) for pioneering work in the development of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) for solid…
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3 items
Dropsonde
- 1960s
Dropsonde instruments are cylindrical metal devices containing pressure, temperature, and humidity sensors to capture atmospheric profiles and thermodynamic data. The instruments are designed to be dropped from an…
- Creator Of Work Bendix Corporation
- Subject Radiosondes, Dropwindsondes, Weather, Weather forecasting, Storms, Meteorology
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5 items
Oral history interview with Klaus Biemann
- 2006-Aug-29
Klaus Biemann's oral history begins with a discussion of his youth near Vienna, Austria. As pharmacy was the family profession, Biemann chose to study it at the University of Innsbruck. He soon developed an interest in…
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299 items
Illustrated Catalogue of Chemical and Physical Apparatus and Assay Goods, Manufactured and Imported by Richards & Co., Limited.
- 1890s
A three-part catalog of chemical supplies and laboratory apparatus sold by Richards & Co., Limited. The first part lists general laboratory supplies, the second includes specific analytical and physio-chemical…
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28 items
Chemical Supplies Apparatus Chemicals Books
- After 1930 – before 1950
A catalog of chemical supplies and laboratory apparatus manufactured by the Reading Scientific Company. Contains a number of print illustrations depicting the company's products. The advertised supplies range from…
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76 items
Laboratory Wood Work : Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Physiography, Drawing Tables, Office Furniture, Domestic Science, Manual Training, Benches, etc.
- After 1910 – before 1913
An early 20th-century catalog of laboratory furniture equipment manufactured and sold by Leonard Peterson & Co. The fully illustrated catalog primarily advertises custom-built benches and cabinetry for science…
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2 items
Kipp's Apparatus
- Circa 1880 – 1920
A Kipp's apparatus, also called a Kipp generator, was an instrument designed for the preparation of small volumes of gases. The instrument was invented around 1844 by the Dutch pharmacist Petrus Jacobus Kipp (1808-1864)…
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8 items
Mass Spectrometer
- 1972
Components of a mass spectrometer as designed by Alfred Otto Carl Nier (1911-1994). Mass spectrometers are analytical instruments used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of one or more molecules in a sample. The…
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5 items
Dairy Science Instruments
- After 1959 – before 1989
Pyrex 70% Gerber Bottle - A glass tube bottle with bulbous ends and a flattened midsection. The mid-section has measurements from 0 to 70 mL. One end is inscribed in red "Cheese".
Used Gerber Bottle 8% - A glass tube…
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Hand-crank Centrifuge, Babcock Milk Tester
- After 1900 – before 1950
A metal, hand-crank centrifuge with a three-pronged metal base. The base is painted a rusty red color and has been attached to a wooden board for stability. A long metal crank on the side of the base bends at a…
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Glass vial with cork stopper
- Undated
Glass vial with cork stopper belonging to Georg Bredig (1902-1944).
- Subject Glassware
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Porcelain mortar
- Undated
Porcelain mortar owned by Georg Bredig (1868-1944). Mortar and pestles are used to manually grind or crush a sample into a fine powder.
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Mortar and Pestles
- After 1868 – before 1944
Two sets of mortar and pestles belonging to Georg Bredig (1868-1944). The larger is made of white porcelain and the smaller is made from agate. Mortar and pestles are used to manually grind or crush a sample into a fine…
