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Description: | The collection includes material that has been in use in the University of Aberdeen, primarily for the purpose of teaching and research and was brought together by a distinguished line of past Professors of Natural Philosophy. Included amongst these are Patrick Copland, William Knight, James Clerk Maxwell, David Thomson, Charles Niven and Nobel Prize winning GP Thomson, John Carroll and R V Jones. The earliest material dates from the mid 18th century and the most recent material from the 21st century. As a result of its continuity the collection provides an important material record which Aberdeen University Senior Lecturer Dr B Marsden describes as "charting the change in practical and popular scientific culture". Metrology includes some items also found under the heading of mechanics and surveying. Item stretch from the mid 18th century (a folding rule by Heath, circa 1740) to the late 20th century. Two precision scales from the 18th century have been discussed by Reid (1989). A significant collection of mid 20th century items from (Rank) Taylor Hobson's Taly range of ultra-precision metrology instruments is part of the material that used to be in the Metrology Laboratory of the Natural Philosophy Department, under Prof R.V. Jones one of the best equipped such laboratories of any University in Britain. The metrological instruments also include a variety of balances from the 18th to 20th centuries with their secondary standard weights and timing instruments. The Natural Philosophy collection is supported by an informative and detailed webpage which includes links to articles related to the collection, information pages for selected items and documentation for an exhibition 'Precisely' which featured the connections between the museum collection of Natural Philosophy and documentation held in the University's Special Libraries and Archives. Access to the collection is restricted and all enquires should be sent to Dr J Reid, the honorary curator. Information compiled consultation with the Honorary Curator.
Super collection: Natural Philosophy Collection.
Objects: Set of weights; scales; quadrant balance; Probe for electronic depth gauge; Talymin; Talymin side acting probe; Talymin axial probe; standard measure of British Empire; 18th century standard rule; Talyvel, Talylin and other instrument in the Taly range, Mechanical balances; Cahn ratio electrobalance; laboratory clocks and timing units; surveying tapes; HP laser interferometer for precision distance and angular measurements; standard 10 kg weight and other standard weight. | Subjects: | History of Science. | Temporal: | 1800 -1980 | Source: | University of Aberdeen | Address: | King's College,
AB24 3FX | Contributor: | Acquisition details: Makers; Hilger & Watt; F.E.Becker & Co; Onrtling; Fraser & McKay; Geo Salter & Cos; Mahr Feinpruf; Rank Taylor Hobson. | Identifier: | ABDNP:CLD12 | Relation: | ABDUA:CLD00 | Go to resource |
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