Written by Mike Lally ‘18 If one were to walk around Bicentennial Hall, one could see strange contraptions, ranging from one foot high to three feet all, behind glass that appear to be large discs with mallets attached. Could these bizarre items be unusual clocks? Perhaps they were used in auditory demonstrations. After all, couldn’t […]…Continue Reading Armstrong Treasure Hunt: Wimshurst Machine
Tag: antique instrument collection
Armstrong Treasure Hunt: Quadrant Electrometer
Written by Mike Lally ’18 While organizing and cataloging the Science Antiques Collection Wendy and I came across a wooden box, standing about a 18 inches high and 10 inches deep. Inside was a mechanism that appeared to be a brass structure inside what can only be described as a birdcage. The item slides out […]…Continue Reading Armstrong Treasure Hunt: Quadrant Electrometer
Armstrong Treasure Hunt: “Philosophical Beads”
On the first day of cataloging the vast array of equipment held in Bicentennial Hall, I came across a small wooden box. Inside the silk lined box are 31 hand blown glass beads with number painted on in gold paint, and a bone slide rule. Engraved on a small ivory plaque on the lid of […]…Continue Reading Armstrong Treasure Hunt: “Philosophical Beads”