France Archives - Page 41 of 51

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A REAUMUR WATCH-CASE BIMETALLIC THERMOMETER, French, 19th century. The case is made of bright plated metal, 1-3/4″ (44 mm) in diameter, with glazed front and removable back plate. The dial is delicately hand-painted with “Reaumur” and a -35° to +80° scale divided every degree and labeled “Glace” (i.e., “Ice”) at 0°. The mechanism has a long shaped bimetallic spring, amplification linkage, and geared sector driving the pointer which is preloaded by a fine hairspring. Condition is fine and functional Read More...

13 Jan

PRECISION SPHEREOMETER

By TESSERACT

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PRECISION SPHEREOMETER, French, mid-19th century. Standing 6-1/2″ tall, made of brass with a steel lead screw, the spherometer has three tapered legs, central pin on the fine thread precision screw, and “micrometer” readout with vertical scale graduated every half-millimeter, and circular scale (on a six-spoked ring) graduated every 0.001 millimeter (!) The central pin presses against an upper double lever arm with very high amplification factor, so that repeatable positive contact is reliably indicated. The instrument thus measures the Read More...

12 Jan

Collins’ Portable Laryngoscope Lamp

By M and R Gordon

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A good example of Collins’ portable laryngoscope lamp. The 1889 Tiemann Armanetarium describes and illustrates this lamp . They catalog it as “Collins’ Lamp” in the section on “Laryngoscope and Accessories” (fig. 2447 on p.261) and the example we are offering was in fact made by Collin & Cie. We believe it used benzilone rather than alcohol. Nicely made with near-all of its nickel-plating intact. Some minor smoke staining on and near chimney. Height: 6.75″ or 17cm approx. Read More...

30 Dec

RARE VOLUMETRIC MEASURE STANDARD RULE

By TESSERACT

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RARE VOLUMETRIC MEASURE STANDARD RULE, French, early 19th century, signed “Kutsch a Paris”. The 13-3/4″ (35 cm) long brass rule has seven leveling stubs aligned with “Diametre et hauteur des Mesures Usuelles a Grains” ranging from “1/8 Liter” to “Double Boisseau.” The other side is divided with two scales (heights and diameters) for “Mesures Usuelles pour les Liquides” from 1/16 to 1/4 liters. Condition is very fine noting light wear. This standard rule served to certify the heights and Read More...

30 Dec

OFFICIAL FRENCH STANDARD WEIGHTS — THE “PARALLELOPIPED KILOGRAM”

By TESSERACT

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OFFICIAL FRENCH STANDARD WEIGHTS — THE “PARALLELOPIPED KILOGRAM”, very early 19th century. Contained in its 4″ x 4-1/2″ x 1-1/8″ (10 x 11 x 3 cm) fitted wood box are the subdivided elements of a kilogram, specifically brass weights of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 1 gram. Each rectangular weight has an adjustment plug, and is marked with its weight value, plus a host of standardization marks, including variously an image of a balance beam, the number Read More...

29 Nov

EARLY FRENCH SECTOR

By TESSERACT

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EARLY FRENCH SECTOR, c. second half 17th century, the substantial brass rule opening on its three-leaf sector hinge to 13-3/8″ (34 cm) overall. The hinge is finely engraved with a six-lobed rose on each side, and the near corners of the sector likewise have fine leaf decoration. There are few scales — only two doubled sector scales per side — as often the case with the earliest sectors. Exquisitely labeled and with hand-punched numerals, we find “Lignes des Partis Read More...

29 Nov

UNCOMMON ALL-BRASS SLIDE RULE

By TESSERACT

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UNCOMMON ALL-BRASS SLIDE RULE, French, mid-19th century, unsigned but probably by Richer, stamped on the case “Règle Logarithmique.” Measuring a full 17″ (43 cm) overall, this substantial rule is made of solid brass, apparently, with a heavy non-tarnishing gray finish. It has a reversible slider, all precision divided with logarithmic “Nomb.” scale, and with transcendental trigonometric functions “Sinus,” “Tang,” and “Caract” scales. Condition is very fine, complete with the original leather covered wood case, the ends notched for use Read More...

22 Nov

Rare and Beautiful 19th century Dip Circle (Dip Needles)

By Eppursimuove

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Rare and Beautiful 19th century Dip Circle (Dip Needles) (Terrestrial magnetism) Unsigned (French?) but really beautiful Dip Circle in wonderful condition dimension: 34cm high Wooden glass case 23,5×20,5cm With this device the magnetic inclination is determined, the angle that the direction of the earth’s magnetic field forms with the plane of the horizon. A magnetic needle can rotate in a vertical plane within a graduated circle. The latter is fixed to a brass support which, in turn, can rotate horizontally. The support is equipped with Read More...

17 Nov

ENORMOUS METER-LONG MATHEMATICAL SECTOR — the struggle to adopt the metric system

By TESSERACT

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ENORMOUS METER-LONG MATHEMATICAL SECTOR, French, c. 1820, signed “Compas (Viret)”, and “No. 9.” This major instrument measures 4-1/8″ x 20-3/4″ x 5/32″ (10 x 53 x 0.4 cm) closed, and opens to a full 39-7/16″ (100 cm). It has a three-leaf sector hinge, and closes on the central steel alignment leaf and the three alignment pins. One side is divided with a linear scale from 0 to 12 by twelfths, labeled “Pied Ancien” representing the 18th century standardized “Pied Read More...

16 Nov

STEREOSCOPE FOR VERASCOPE VIEWS

By TESSERACT

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STEREOSCOPE FOR VERASCOPE VIEWS, French, early 19th century, signed. The handheld brass stereo viewer is 4-1/2″ (11.5 cm) across, with side panels that latch into place, and slotted arms that swing down as carriers for stereo views. In fine condition, it folds flat for portability. Read More...

16 Nov

HIGH POWER BINOCULARS

By TESSERACT

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HIGH POWER BINOCULARS, probably French, c. 1900. The brass system opens from 5-3/4″ to 8-1/2″ (15 – 22 cm) long, the parallel tubes hinged for adjustable calibrated interocular separation. Cleaned but good. Read More...

15 Nov

ATOMIZER

By TESSERACT

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For sale, antique French atomizer, c. 1900, 5″ (13 cm) long, striped blue and white glass and cast metal. Excellent. Read More...