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Boscovich’s account of his vitrometer, 1767

BOSCOVICH, Roger Joseph. De recentibus compertis pertinentibus ad perficiendam dioptricam, pp. 169-235 and 2 plates in: De Bononiensi Scientiarum et Artium Instituto atque Academia, Commentarii, Vol. V, Pars Prima. [With:] De unione colorum aliorum post alios per binas substantias, ac unione multo majore per tres, pp. 265-333 and one plate in Ibid., Vol. V, Pars Altera. Bologna: Typis Laelii et Vulpe, 1767 First edition, in two complete journal volumes, of Boscovich’s invention of the vitrometer. “In this dissertation, [De recentibus] Read More...

Octogonal brass and steel compass signed IAN DIRCKSOON WT DE RYP 1612

An octagonal brass and steel compass with ball head signed “IAN DIRCKSOON WT DE RYP 1612” and bearing two marks: a crowned L on each of the arms and a mark symbolising a 4 with three legs on the inside of the hinge. One of the arms has an additional steel strip used as an ink point. Dimension: length of 16,2 cm. The Netherlands dated 1612. Read More...

Trepan-perforator Josef Leiter c. 1866

An obstretrical trepan-perforator by Josef Leiter (1830-1892) of Vienna of circa 1866. The instrument is made of a curved tube with a big trepan with on top a winch-handle to rotate the trepan, a similar example was exhibited in an 1866 exhibtion of instruments in London of ‘obstetrical and other instruments’. In 1866 an exhibition of ‘obstetrical and other instruments’ was held which was organized in the Library of the Royal College of Physicians by the Obstetrical Society of London. Read More...

Indian Bezoar in silver mounting 17th century

This Bezoar stone is mounted in a silver frame, it was probably made in India in the 17th century. A bezoar is a clump of undigested matter of often hair and plant fibers, found in the digestive systems of animals, including humans. This specimen likely originated from a horse or camel. Bezoar stones were once thought to possess universal antidotal properties against poisons, deriving its name from the Persian word “pãd-zahr” meaning ‘antidote’. While not a cure-all, it did Read More...

Geocentric armillary sphere F. Paluzie, signed 1822

A Spanish geocentric armillary sphere by Faustino Paluzie of 1822. These types of armillary spheres are also referred to as Ptolemaic and are made to the vision that the earth was the center of the universe. The globe is made of a structure of wooden rings (armille) which are placed in horizontal pisitions to represent from north to south: the circle of the Northern Arctic Pole, the Tropic of Cancer, the equinoctial line or Equator, the Tropic of Capricorn and Read More...

Boddaert’s Obstetrical Lever with Ebony Handle

A very fine, signed example of  Boddaert’s obstetrical lever lever with checkered ebony handle . Quoting from Dr. Anthony Tizzano’s excellent site: “Boddaert’s Lever is a simple form with a minor curve and two holes near the distal end which permit the passage of a cord (lac) thus producing traction in varying directions.” The maker is E. Joris working in Belgium, last quarter of the 19th century.  Read More...

Late 19th century oil lamp with a terrestrial globe

A late 19th century oil lamp with a terrestrial globe and base decorated with a castle set in a rural scene, Circa 1885. Northern European for the French market. The countries and seas indicated on the globe are written in French.  Burner made by Kosmos-Brenner. Height: 52 cm – 20 1/2 inches. Diameter: 14.5 cm – 6 inches. Read More...

Rare Miniature Terrestrial globe Lebégue Bruxelles 10 CM Diameter

Rare Miniature Terrestrial globe Lebégue Bruxelles 10 CM Diameter mounted with tripode iron foot. Very beautiful cartography and paper in good condition Read More...

Politzer’s Acumeter for Hearing Testing

Adam Politzer (1835-1920) was an Austro-Hungarian physician, who is described by some as “the father of otology”. He was a prolific inventor of medical instruments and among his most widely employed devices was the Acumeter (aka: Acoumeter), a fine example of which, by H. Reiner of Vienna, we are offering here. It  was developed to replace the ticking watch as a major measure of hearing loss. Introduced in 1877, it remained in use well into the next century. The Read More...

Terrestrial Floor Library Globe by FELK Pragua C 1860

Interesting Terrestrial Floor Library Globe by Felk Pragua C 1860 Brass méridien circle . Equatorial circle with months days and zodiacal signs Foot in blacked wood with Brass compass  Read More...

Regnier Dynamometer by Amadori in Bologna

This mid 19th century dynamometer was made by ‘Amadori of Bologna’ used to measure the human muscle force and was invented by the French Civil Engineer Edme Regnier (1751-1823). The device was popularised by Professor Edmond Desbonnet, who used to test the strongmen and professional wrestlers of their day to compare compare their results. The device facilitated the measurement of two distinct forces: Pressure force, accomplished by gripping and squeezing the double steel bow, and Traction force, achieved by pulling Read More...

P.M. Tamson Dasymeter

A P.M. Tamson Dasymeter or baroscop to measure the Buoyancy of Air or the weight of air. A small balance supporting a glass bulb and a small weight on two sides of an arm. When placed in a evacuated bell jar the glass bulb appears heavier due to its greater loss of buoyancy. The balance arises from a black painted steel stand a painted label says it was made by ‘P.M. Tamson instrumenten Den Haag’. This instrument maker was founded Read More...