Moving magnet galvanometer by Hunt and Roskell
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1843-1897
This moving magnet galvanometer was manufactured by the firm Hunt and Roskell in Clerkenwell, London. Dated between 1843 and 1897, the instrument is housed in a sloped wooden casing, designed to display a time-related indicator to the public.
The face of the instrument features an inscription stating: 'This needle is deflected precisely at each hour, Hunt & Roskell Ltd, jewellers and watchmakers'. It incorporates the text 'Greenwich Mean Time' on the dial, reflecting its role in the nineteenth-century system of telegraphic time distribution. The overall dimensions of the piece are 115 mm by 115 mm by 75 mm. The object was acquired from Christie, Manson and Woods Limited and is currently held in the Science Museum Group collection.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1843-1897
- Type
- Galvanometer
- Maker
- Hunt and Roskell
- Dimensions
- 115 mm x 115 mm x 75 mm
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Dial Inscription
- This needle is deflected precisely at each hour, Hunt & Roskell Ltd, jewellers and watchmakers
- Maker / attribution
- Hunt and Roskell
- Place of Manufacture
- Clerkenwell, London, England
Design
- Visible features
- • Sloped wooden housing for desk or window display • Circular brass bezel securing the dial cover • Single vertical indicator needle • Text on dial includes 'Greenwich Mean Time'
- Functional Purpose
- During the nineteenth century, the distribution of time in Britain relied heavily on telegraphy. Large horological establishments often employed galvanometers as a means of providing a public time service. By connecting these instruments to telegraphic time signals transmitted from Greenwich, watchmakers could offer accurate time to the public. The galvanometer serves as a visual indicator, with its needle mechanism reacting to incoming electrical signals.
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is presented in a wedge-shaped wooden case, providing an angled orientation for the circular dial face. This form factor suggests the object was intended to be positioned on a flat surface, such as a shop counter or behind a window pane, to ensure the dial was easily visible to passers-by. A brass bezel surrounds the dial, which is protected by a glass covering. The dial face itself is inscribed with the text 'Greenwich Mean Time' and the manufacturer's name, 'Hunt & Roskell Ltd, jewellers and watchmakers', alongside operational instructions stating that the needle is deflected at every hour.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The instrument is documented under the accession number 1985-76 within the Science Museum Group collection. Information regarding its provenance identifies that the object was purchased from the auction house Christie, Manson and Woods Limited. The records classify the item as a moving magnet galvanometer, specifically linked to the location of Clerkenwell, London, where the makers operated. The identification of the maker and the specific temporal range of the object are supported by the provided museum documentation.
Identification
- Accession Number
- 1985-76
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Specific manufacture date within the 1843-1897 range is unverified
- Research required: Exact internal mechanism components are not visible in the provided photos