Powerhouse Museum Collection Search 2.53
Category history:
   

Support the Powerhouse with a tax-deductible gift

Make a donation
Make a donation
Make a donation
User keywords, or 'tags', are words added to object records by other users to enhance their discovery. You can add keywords that may be useful in helping others find this object.

We are experimenting with tagging because sometimes museums describe objects in language that is highly specialist and user added keywords are useful in bridging the 'semantic gap' between the language of the museum and that of the user.

Any keywords listed have been added by other users like yourself. You can click on them to use them as search terms to dicover other objects. User tags
Related subjects lists the broad themes that have relevance to the object you are viewing. You can click these themes to see other objects related thematically. Related Subjects
+ Sydney Observatory
+ Optics
+ Astronomy
+ Australian astronomy
+ Measuring
This object belongs to
+ Sydney Observatory Collection
Here you can find links to other objects in our collection that belong to the same formal classification categories as the object you are viewing. Similar objects
Measuring instruments > Optical instruments

+ 2010/1/184 Optical calibration device wi...
+ 2008/83/1 Stereo-plotting machine, Wild ...
+ 2008/128/1 Optical flat, with case, glas...
+ 2008/128/2 Optical flat, with case, glas...
+ H7464 Collection of optical plastics as ...
+ H9975 Telescope, 3 1/4" refractor with a...
+ H10025 Astronomical equipment, sun diago...
+ H10026 Optical equipment, polarizing eye...
+ H10031 Spectroscope, McClean type, in ca...
+ H10032 Spectroscope eyepiece in storage ...
+ H10033 Optical equipment in storage box,...
+ H10060 Microscope plate reader in case, ...
+ H10066 Optical instrument, for measureme...
+ H10139 Optical instrument, for measureme...
+ H10140 Optical instrument, for measureme...
+ H10183 Optical instrument, for measureme...
+ H10256 Telescope and tripod, 2" refracto...
+ H10257 Astronomical equipment, telescope...
+ H10272 Reseau in case, glass / metal / l...


'Autogenerated tags' are a new feature that we are testing. These tags are generated by passing the object record through the OpenCalais service from Reuters. This service makes a 'best guess' at the names, places, companies and specialist terminolgy that is in the text of the object records.

By clicking on a tag you can find all other collection records related to that person, place or company.

Because the tags are autogenerated there are likely to be some errors. If you spot one of these then please flag the tag for deletion by clicking the 'x'. Auto-generated tags: [Beta]

A scaleometer in a leather case, 1917 - 1940
This image is not currently available as a higher resolution full colour zoom. This may be because this object has not been moved from storage and re-photographed in recent times.

Object statement
Measuring instrument, scaleometer, microscopic, in case, metal / glass / leather, maker unknown, used at Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia, [1917-1940]
The Significance Statement summarises why an object is important and places it in a social and cultural context. An object may be significant for various reasons, including: historical use, rarity, design/aesthetics, new technology or changes in society. Statement of significance
A scaleometer is used to take measurements that are extremely small. This scaleometer was used to take measurements off photographic plates taken at Sydney Observatory.

This scaleometer remains of national significance due to its pioneering role in Australian science and its association with Australia's earliest astronomers.

Written by Erika Dicker
Assistant Curator, February, 2008.
Production Notes include information about the design, manufacture and marketing of an object. Production notes
The scaleometer was made between 1917 and 1940. The maker is unknown.
History Notes include facts about what has happened to an object since manufacture. This could include who owned it and how it was used (provenance). It may also describe any cultural meanings with which it may have become associated. History notes
The scaleometer was used at Sydney Observatory, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

 This text content licensed under CC BY-NC.

Description
Measuring instrument, scaleometer, microscopic, in case, metal / glass / leather, maker unknown, used at Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia, [1917-1940]

A scaleometer in a leather case. The scaleometer consists of a cylindrical metal tube with a lens in one end and an aperture in the other end. There is a hole cut in the body of the metal tube through which another lens fitted at an oblique angle can be seen. The scaleometer fits into a cylindrical leather case that closes with a press stud.

Observatory stock number 99.

Made: 1917 - 1940


Used: Sydney Observatory;
The Registration Number of an object is a unique identifying number applied by the museum at the point of acquisition. Current numbering format comprises the year of acquisition, followed by a sequential number. For example, '2007/45' is the Registration Number that represents the 45th acquisition in the year 2007. Registration number
H10063
Production date
1917 - 1940
Diameter
22 mm

 This text content licensed under CC BY-SA.
Acquisition credit line
Sydney Observatory Collection, 1983
This object belongs to:
Sydney Observatory Collection
Subjects
+ Sydney Observatory
+ Optics
+ Astronomy
+ Australian astronomy
+ Measuring
Short persistent URL
Concise link back to this object: http://from.ph/230740
Cite this object in Wikipedia
Copy and paste this wiki-markup:

{{cite web |url=http://from.ph/230740 |title=A scaleometer in a leather case |author=Powerhouse Museum |accessdate=25 May 2013 |publisher=Powerhouse Museum, Australia}}


Copyright
Images on this site are reproduced for the purposes of research and study only. Whilst every effort has been made to trace the Copyright holders, we would be grateful for any information concerning Copyright of the images and we will withdraw them immediately on Copyright holder's request.
Object viewed 3693 times. Parent IRN: 2143. Master IRN: 2143 Img: 25359 Flv: H:392px W:760px SMO:1 RIGHTS:.