Wooden model of a mercury compensated pendulum
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1829
According to the Science Museum Group, this wooden model of a mercury compensated pendulum was made in London in 1829 by instrument makers Watkins & Hill. The record notes that the item was sold by Watkins and Hill in 1829 for one pound and six shillings, and classifies it within science teaching.
The assembly comprises an elongated rod terminating at one end near a paper inventory tag, connecting at the opposite end to a stirrup frame that supports a cylindrical container representing a mercury vessel, complete with a pointed downward pointer at its base.
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
- Made
- 1829 in London
- Type
- model
- Maker
- Watkins & Hill
- Credit
- University College London, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
- Category
- Science Teaching
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Watkins & Hill
Design
- Visible features
- • Elongated rod structure shown horizontally against a white studio background • Paper label tag tied to the upper end of the rod bearing object number markings • Lower end consists of a frame holding a cylindrical tube representing the pendulum bob assembly • Pointed indicator tip extending from the bottom platform below the cylinder
- Visual Observations
- Visual documentation shows an elongated rod structure photographed horizontally against a plain white background. Attached near the upper end of the rod is a paper tag bearing inventory markings. At the opposite lower end, the rod terminates in a frame holding a cylindrical tube representing a pendulum bob assembly. A pointed indicator tip projects from the bottom platform beneath this cylinder.
- Object Identity and Provenance
- Catalogued under object number 1983-462 by the Science Museum Group, this item is titled as a 'Wooden model of a mercury compensated pendulum'. The museum record attributes its production to maker Watkins & Hill in London in 1829, adding that it was sold by the firm in that year for '#1-6/ -.' (£1 6s). The museum classifies the object under 'Science Teaching' and records the credit as 'University College London, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy', while formal technical details regarding its classroom use are not expanded upon in the catalogue description.
- Documentation and Research Limitations
- The museum documentation designates the piece as type 'model' and describes it as wooden, but does not specify individual materials, wood species, or whether metal hardware is present in the frame or fittings. Physical dimensions, weight, and internal construction—such as whether the cylindrical bob is solid or hollow—are not recorded in the available source record.
Identification
- Reference
- 1983-462
- Object Number
- 1983-462
- 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: Described as a model rather than a functional clock mechanism
- Research required: Specific materials and dimensions are not detailed in the source documentation