Memories of Technology

1500: A wheel-lock pistol or Puffer

The invention of the wheel-lock in Europe can be placed at about 15001. There is a group of scholars who believe Leonardo da Vinci was the inventor. In the early seventies I decided do make my own copy of the wheel-lock pistol. The wheel, the spring and the chain have been made of steel, whereas some parts of the bode have been made of brass. A spark from the rotating wheel will ignite the powder and release the bullet.

Fig. 1: wheel-lock pistol (reproduction)

Fig. 2: wheel-lock mechanism (reproduction ca. 1975)

1 wheel-lock

The entrance hole for the spark may be observed at the beginning of the gun barrel.

Fig. 3: entrance hole for the spark at the beginning of the gun barrel

1890: The Hertz antenna

In 1886 Heinrich Hertz succeeded in designing and building an oscillating device with a special type antenna , which enabled him to prove the existence of electromagnetic waves by engineering instruments to transmit and receive radio pulses using experimental procedures that ruled out all other known wireless phenomena. His experiments have been verified in experiments by numerous scientists. Some of these manufactures copies of the Hertz antenna design and other experimental devices, which had been documented by Hertz in his publications2. Some of the experiments have been carried out in Dutch High Schools (named HBS), which had been introduced 1862 by Johan Thorbecke. Some of these schools had been equipped with physical cabinets, providing the teachers and scientists with excellent equipment in laboratories for practical studies. This did lead to several great inventions and Noble Prizes3 The Hertz antenna receiver is a set of terminals which is not electrically grounded for its operation. The following Hertz antenna probably belonged to the physical cabinet of a high school at Roermond, the Netherlands4.

Fig. 4: Physical cabinet at the Episcopal College Roermond, Netherlands

2 See Wikisource (in German) Elektrische Kraft Hertz published 13. December 1888 3 Van t Hoff (1901), Lorentz (1902), Zeeman (eveneens in 1902), Van der Waals (1910) and Kamerlingh Onnes (1913) 4 Het fysisch kabinet van het Bisschoppelijk College te Roermond - de belangrijke rol van de HBS

Fig. 5: Physical cabinet at the Episcopal College Roermond, Netherlands

Fig. 6: Hertz antenna as a parabolic antenna

Fig. 7: Hertz antenna -parabolic antenna

The antenna had to be energized by an inductor coil and Bunsen- battery elements 5, producing a considerable amount of high-frequency energy.

Fig. 8: Antenna designs by Heinrich Hertz

5 Elektrische Kraft Hertz:197

Electrodes
Hertz designed special electrodes, which had to be removable in order to be cleaned, polished and (if necessary) replaced. Hertz describes his experimental setup with two resonating sparking antennas A, respectively B as follows:6 a Ruhmkorff inductor a with a length of 52cm and 20cm diameter, a total of 6 large Bunsen elements (b) and a special mercury interrupter. This system had been proven to generate 3cm sparks between two bulb-like electrodes. As a rule electrode A was setup for a spark length of 1 cm7 a second inductor (e) had been setup with a much smaller secondary spark length of approximately 1 mm8 two ball-form, brass electrodes with 5 up to 10mm diameter. The poles must be kept smooth and clean9. Corrosion or dirt may cause malfunctioning.

The detection distance is documented as: 1 m.

Fig. 9: elektroden

6 Elektrische Kraft Hertz:070 7 Den Funken A gab ein grosses Inductorium (a, Fig. 18.) von Ruhmkorff von 52 cm Lnge und 20 cm Durchmesser, getrieben durch 6 grosse Bunsensche Elemente (b) und versehen mit einem besonderen Quecksilberinterruptor (c). Es vermochte bei dem vorhandenen Strom zwischen Spitze und Platte Funken bis zu 10 cm, zwischen 2 Kugeln Funken bis zu etwa 3 cm Lnge zu geben. Benutzt wurde meist ein Funke von 1 cm Lnge 8 Elektrische Kraft Hertz:071 : Benutzt wurden Funken von etwa 1 mm Lnge zwischen den vernickelten Kugeln eines Riesssehen Funkenmikrometers (f) oder zwischen Messingkugeln von 5 bis 10 mm Durchmesser. 9 Die Pole mssen rein und glatt sein, sind sie verunreinigt oder durch langen Gebrauch stark corrodirt, so versagt wohl die Wirkung.

Craters in the electrodes' surface

I investigated the electrodes of the device and observed craters and corrosion which had been caused by the numerous lightnings of the experiments.

Fig. 10: Craters in the electrodes' surface

1900: Sestante Serie 12310 made by Filotecnica Salmoiraghi of Milan

A quite similar sextant is found in the web10, labeled: Antique brass sextant Ing. A Salmoiraghi Milano signed, early 900, with lenses and original mahogany box.

Fig. 11: Sestante Serie 12310 made by Filotecnica Salmoiraghi of Milan Antique brass sextant Ing. A Salmoiraghi Milano signed, probably early 1900, with lenses and original hardwood box. The sextant and the box have been labeled with a serial number 12310.

The Manufacturer A. Salmoiraghi

Inside the box the manufacturer specifies an advice to be careful in handling the equipment: Instituto Ottico Meccanico Ing. A. Salmoiraghi - Milano Avvertenza Prima de togliere lo strumento dalla cassetta si osservi attentamente como vi e disposto: e buona precauzione per ovuare perditempi e pericoli di guasti nel riporello.

10 Sestante / Sextant | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

In 1979 I investigated the possibility to trace the origin and age of the instrument, but found the manufacturer's archive had been destroyed in the course of World War II

Fig. 12: Response letter from Filotechnica Salmoiraghi (1979)

The box contains 4 oculars, 2 lenses, and a key11.

Fig. 13: The sextant's box

11 Some more information towards sextants is found in A Fine Sextant by Filotecnica Salmoiraghi of Milan

J. Sewill
At the side of the lid of the box there is a paper label documenting: J. Sewill, Maker to the Royal Navy, 61 South Castle St., Liverpool and in handwriting some personal information: No. 10011, Name: Colaba, Captain.

Fig. 14: Label at the sextant's case, specifying Joseph or Joshua Sewill I did not find any captain Colaba in the web. Instead the Indian city of Colaba may be considered as a home station for an unknown captain12. Colaba is the place where the Viceroys and Governors used to land upon their arrival in India. The Gateway of India, though built as a welcome to King George V for his visit of 1911, then an event of grand significance for British India and the British empire, today serves as a "monumental memento" of colonialisation and subjugation by the British over the people of India.[

12 Colaba

The name Colaba, comes from Kolabhat, a word in the language of Kolis, the indigenous inhabitants of the islands, before the arrival of Portuguese. The area that is now Colaba was originally a region consisting of two islands: Colaba and Little Colaba (or Old Woman's Island). The island of Colaba was one of the Seven islands of Bombay ruled by the Portuguese. The group of islands was gifted by Portugal to Charles II of England as dowry when he married Catherine of Braganza.

Joseph and Joshua Sewill

Joseph Sewill (1848 to ca 1900) was chronometer maker to the Royal Navy and the Queen of Spain13. Another source specifies 1845-1937 for the Liverpool address: ONE OF ENGLAND'S MOST IMPORTANT CHRONOMETER AND INSTRUMENT MAKER'S HISTORY: Joseph Sewill born c.1813 was a watchmaker and chronometermaker in Liverpool. It is thought that Joseph Sewill may have retired to London in 1862. He died in London in 1895. His son John Joshua who died in 1891 carried on the family business. His brother Frank succeeded John Joshua but the business was out of the family's hands by 1905, although the firm is still in existence in Liverpool. Joseph Sewill is listed as working from 30 Cornhill, London 1870-1890 and 61 South Castle Street, Liverpool 18451937. They were best known as maker's of high grade chronometers, but also offered navigation instruments such as sextants and quadrants.

13 Source: 1202_T specifies the address: J Sewill, 61 South Castle Street, Liverpool

1900: Light microscope by C. Reichert

In light microscopy, oil immersion is a technique used to increase the resolution of a microscope. This is achieved by immersing both the objective lens and the specimen in a transparent oil of high refractive index, thereby increasing the numerical aperture of the objective lens. Immersion oils are transparent oils that have specific optical and viscosity characteristics necessary for use in microscopy. Typical oils used have an index of refraction around 1.515. An oil immersion objective is an objective lens specially designed to be used in this way. Many condensers also give optimal resolution when the condenser lens is immersed in oil. The following microscope has been designed for immersion technology, which before the introduction of electronic microscopes had been the most advanced technology to analyze microscopic details. The immersion fluid used to be water or glycerine. The horseshoe type base is extra heavy brass to allow stability with microscope at full inclination.

Fig. 15: C. Reichert microscope Nr. 14939 Oil-immersion is being used for 100- or 60-fold magnification, Water-immersion is used for high resolution observation of living materials.

C. Reichtert
According to the museum for optical instruments C. Reichert (Vienna) must have produced the instruments for the serial number before 1900. In the year 1891 serial number 10,000 has been reached and before 1898 the microscope with serial number 20,000 has been reported to have left the factory. A research microscope Reichert 11692 may have been produced around 1892. The objective system 14939 may be dated around 1900 as well. The microscope C. Reichert (Wien), Nr. 14709 has been equipped with a equally numbered hard wooden case including the following materials (with their text inscribed labels): - Wooden box Nr. 14709 with a key - Wooden box with carrier materials, filter clip and magnifier - extra illumination rind - 2 Oculars (unlabeled) - Objective C. Reichert (Wien) No. 4b - Objective C. Reichert (Wien) No. 8a - Objective C. Reichert (Wien) No. 18b, 1''/12, Homog. Imm. Apert. 1.30, No. 14939 The microscope has been equipped with an extra paper label: A. Rosenthal, C&K Dvorki Optik & Mechanik, Praha, Prikopy 26

Fig. 16: C. Reichert microscope set Nr. 14939

~1900 An ancient (French?) Caliper

Similar calipers have been found in the web14. The ancient caliper has been labeled with the name I. Isaure, which may be the owner of the instrument. Isaure is not a popular first name for women and an equally uncommon surname or last name for all people. (1990 U.S. Census)15.

14 Grand Pied A Coulisse Ancien Fer Forg Laiton Nom Grav Outil Ancien Collection 15 Isaure meaning and name origin

Strange as it may seem part of the caliper has been made of steel, the other part however in brass. The scale ranges from 0 to 20cm and provides a 19/20-vernier scale.

Fig. 17: Standard caliper and the ancient (French?) caliper (below)

1933: BBC TV-reception in Italy16

Visiting Rosignano at the Via Aurelia we discovered that our host's father experimented with TVreception of BBC-London in the medium wave band (261 meters). The Philips valve, numbered 35, with a width of 33mm and a height of 40mm had been illuminated through a Nipkov-wheel, which had to be synchronized.

Fig. 18: ...speciale buis van de zolder.... Best synchronization required a stable mains frequency and succeeded at 1 'o clock at night. Our host told us he had been allowed to help his father as a 13 years old kid.

16 RB Archief JWR: 1995-2000

~1950 A Hertel & Reuss Microscope Illumination Set

The imprint refers to the Hertel & Reuss company (at Kassel, Germany), which had been known for optical products. The inscriptions are: Hertel & Reuss, Optik, Kassel and the word Bepco. The serial number at the bottom of the foot is H&R24A17, which seems to confirm that the foot belongs to the optics.

Fig. 19: A Microscope Illumination Set

17 Referring to Hertel & Reuss

The intact incandescent lamp is a 220V type.

Fig. 20: The intact incandescent lamp is a 220V type

Fig. 21: Hertel & Reuss, Optik, Kassel and the word Bepco

1959: Kodak Cine Automatic Turret Camera F/1.9

This is a cine camera for double run 8mm film with 25 feet load. It has three Ektanar /f1.9 lenses on a rotating turret; a 24mmlens, a 13mm normal and a 6.5mm wide angle lens. Double run 8mm film is run through the camera twice, the first time exposing half of one side of the film, the second time half of the other side. The film is then cut and spliced together to create one length of film of 50 feet. The camera has been documented in LIFE - 15. Juni 1959 page 49 and Popular Mechanics - Juli 1959 - Seite 205

Fig. 22: Kodak Turret Camera F/1.9

Fig. 23: Kodak Turret Camera F/1.9

The quality of the material may be illustrated by the following frame:

Fig. 24: Kodak normal 8 mm film (1972)

Contents
1500: A wheel-lock pistol or Puffer ................................................................................................1 1890: The Hertz antenna..................................................................................................................3 Electrodes....................................................................................................................................7 Craters in the electrodes' surface ................................................................................................8 1900: Sestante Serie 12310 made by Filotecnica Salmoiraghi of Milan......................................9 The Manufacturer A. Salmoiraghi..............................................................................................9 J. Sewill.....................................................................................................................................12 Joseph and Joshua Sewill .........................................................................................................13 1900: Light microscope by C. Reichert ........................................................................................14 C. Reichtert...............................................................................................................................15 ~1900 An ancient (French?) Caliper..............................................................................................16 1933: BBC TV-reception in Italy...................................................................................................18 ~1950 A Hertel & Reuss Microscope Illumination Set.................................................................19 1959: Kodak Cine Automatic Turret Camera F/1.9 ......................................................................21