Light Refactor(?)
Title
Light Refactor(?)
Subject
Physics Demonstration
Description
Physical Description
Object has a black cast iron base that is a cylinder with a hollow center. The inside of the cylinder is lined with felt. A metal lid covers the hollow center and a circular glass lens sits in the center of the lid. The lid has numbers painted onto it with a black and gold placard with the inscription of the maker of the object along with the city and country of origin. On one side of the base there is a hole that a metal cradle sits in. A frosted glass lens sits in the cradle. A metal arm is attached at the base directly opposite the cradle. The arm is attached at a 30 degree angle. The arm has two metal rings connected to it with each ring at a different unique height. Both rings are made of cast iron and have fittings that allow them to slide on the arm. The fittings also have metal thumb screws that secure the rings at a given position on the arm. The two rings themselves are not the same. The ring on the bottom has a glass lens spanning the center with two metal poles sticking up on the ring. The poles are symmetrical in terms of position on the ring edge. The ring on the top of the arm contains a glass prism that sits inside a metal knob that can be rotated. Numbers are etched onto the surface of the ring.
Functional Description
The device appears to have been used for showing the effects of light that has been passed through a prism at modular angles. The ring at the top of the arm can be used to rotate the glass prism and the numbers on the edge of the ring can be used to align the prism to specific degrees. The ring below contains two metal prongs that can be used to hold an object in place above the glass center. The glass cradle on the base is used to diffuse light onto the lid of the base.
Object has a black cast iron base that is a cylinder with a hollow center. The inside of the cylinder is lined with felt. A metal lid covers the hollow center and a circular glass lens sits in the center of the lid. The lid has numbers painted onto it with a black and gold placard with the inscription of the maker of the object along with the city and country of origin. On one side of the base there is a hole that a metal cradle sits in. A frosted glass lens sits in the cradle. A metal arm is attached at the base directly opposite the cradle. The arm is attached at a 30 degree angle. The arm has two metal rings connected to it with each ring at a different unique height. Both rings are made of cast iron and have fittings that allow them to slide on the arm. The fittings also have metal thumb screws that secure the rings at a given position on the arm. The two rings themselves are not the same. The ring on the bottom has a glass lens spanning the center with two metal poles sticking up on the ring. The poles are symmetrical in terms of position on the ring edge. The ring on the top of the arm contains a glass prism that sits inside a metal knob that can be rotated. Numbers are etched onto the surface of the ring.
Functional Description
The device appears to have been used for showing the effects of light that has been passed through a prism at modular angles. The ring at the top of the arm can be used to rotate the glass prism and the numbers on the edge of the ring can be used to align the prism to specific degrees. The ring below contains two metal prongs that can be used to hold an object in place above the glass center. The glass cradle on the base is used to diffuse light onto the lid of the base.
Creator
Gary Spikberg, Andrew Merdzinski, Andrew Stanley, Nick Lesko with additions by Steven Walton
Date
mid-20th century
Format
Physical Object
Language
English
Type
Physics Demonstration
Identifier
Property tag: MCMT-8121
Coverage
USA
Physical Dimensions
Base: 15cm x 6 cm x 15cm
Arm: 1cm x 24cm x 1cm
Top Ring: 6cm x 3cm x 6cm
Bottom Ring: 7.25 cm x 1.75cm x 7.25 cm
Arm: 1cm x 24cm x 1cm
Top Ring: 6cm x 3cm x 6cm
Bottom Ring: 7.25 cm x 1.75cm x 7.25 cm
Materials
cast iron, glass, frosted glass, steel
Maker
Gaertner Scientific Corporation, Chicago, IL
Inscriptions
[lid] 75001 6050
[placard] The | GAERTNER | SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION | Chicago U.S.A
[placard] The | GAERTNER | SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION | Chicago U.S.A
Location
Fisher Hall, Physics storage
Collection
Citation
Gary Spikberg, Andrew Merdzinski, Andrew Stanley, Nick Lesko with additions by Steven Walton, “Light Refactor(?),” Michigan Tech Inventory of Historic Scientific Instruments, accessed April 28, 2024, https://ihsi.omeka.net/items/show/179.