Item ST 29786 Quadrant Electrometer - Thomson Type, with Glass & Metal Case, Unknown Make, circa 1880s-1900s

Summary

Thomson type quadrant electrometer, with replenisher and auxiliary electrometer, circa 1900. Used at Melbourne Observatory.

An electrometer measures electrical charge.

The basic quadrant electrometer was developed by Lord Kelvin (Sir William Thomson) in the 1860s. The earliest versions were usually housed inside a "bird cage" or box. The bird cage electrometers got their name from the Faraday cage that was used to protect the instrument from stray electrostatic charges. In some cases, a glass bell jar protected them from the air currents which could affect their operation. The other common approach was to house the electometer inside a wooden box, the front of which was made of glass.

Physical Description

Similar to ST 023156, except on Leyden jar or electrostatic shield. Has geared replenisher in top of lantern, and divided ring electrometer for determining the charge on the needle (sight hole near top of lantern). Main body is cylindrical glass housing. Quadrants have glass insulators.