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Scientific apparatus and instruments, Electronics

Manual Variable Resistor Box

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BY 4.0

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Variable resistors are also known as potentiometers. Potentiometers are used to measure electromotive force (emf) by balancing it with a known emf. The concept was first developed in 1841 by J. C. Poggendorff and improved throughout the 19th century by Latimer Clark and J. A. Fleming.

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Extent
  • 8.75 in. H x 5.875 in. W x 14.625 in. L
Inscription
  • (Plaque on front) "James G. Biddle / Philadelphia"
  • (Top center) "int. Ohm richtig bei 20C / Manganin Otto Wolff Berlin 5230"
  • (Top clockwise from left corner) "01, 01, 01, 02, 05, 1, 1, 2, 5, 10, 10, 20, 50, 100, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 1000, 2000, 5000"
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Rights Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
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  • Courtesy of Science History Institute

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Science History Institute. Manual Variable Resistor Box. Photograph, 2016. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/v405s9468.

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