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Description: | The Collection of Historic Scientific Instruments is a Recognised Collection of National Significance. The Collection comprises over 500 items illustrating the history of teaching and research in Natural Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy and the physical sciences in the University over a period of five centuries. The Collection provides important material evidence of the history and development of science and scientific instrument making in Scotland and beyond.
Certain items are of international importance and renown, among them the 'Great Astrolabe' (1575) and Universal Instrument (1582) made by Humphrey Cole of London; three pendulum clocks by Joseph Knibb of London (1673), one of which may be the earliest split seconds clock; and an exceptionally large mariner's astrolabe, made by Elias Allen, London, 1616, all thought to have been purchased for the University c.1673 by James Gregory (the University's first Professor of Mathematics and inventor of the reflecting telescope) during an attempt to found in St Andrews what would have been Britain's first observatory. Some other instruments are also associated with prominent scientists, for example a microscope by Andrew Ross & Co., London, purchased in 1840 for the optical specialist Sir David Brewster (then Principal of the United College).
Many of the objects have been preserved in the continuous ownership of the University for centuries. This custodianship reflects the University's own sense of the importance of these objects, as scientific instruments and as museum pieces, and its role in preserving them as intrinsic elements of its own history, and that of the nation. In many cases, the instruments are supported by archival documentation in the University Library's, Special Collections department.
Other instruments of particular interest include:
Model Watt beam engine, c. 1824
Circumferentor, ?Netherlands, early 17th century
Gregorian reflecting telescope made by James Short, 1736
Microscope belonging to Sir David Brewster, made by Andrew Ross and Co, London, c. 1840
Sundial (Oughtred’s double horizontal dial) made by Hilkiah Bedford, London, c. 1660-80
Telescope of the Galilean refracting type, mid 17th century, associated with James Gregory
Orrery made by Benjamin Cole, London, c. 1750
Cometarium made by R. Fidler, London, c. 1810 | Subjects: | SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS ASTRONOMY INSTRUMENT EDUCATION PHYSICS NATURAL PHILOSOPHY science | Source: | University of St Andrews | Address: | KY16 9AJ | Creator: | University of St Andrews | Contributor: | University of St Andrews | Identifier: | PH:C59 | Language: | en-GB | Relation: | MC:C48 |
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