Bate's gravimeter, c. 1830-5

Made:
circa 1830-5 in United Kingdom
designer:
Robert Brettell Bate

Bate's gravimeter, with seven brass and four platinum weights in ivory box, in mahogany case, 6 1/2" x 2 1/8" x 2 1/2", c. 1830-5

From the legislation of Sikes’ instrument in 1816 til the appointment of the Royal Society’s Committee which reported in 1833, the only official table of strengths was that compiled by Sikes. The specific gravities upon which he had based these strengths were not published. R B Bate (fl. 1807-1843) proposed that the gravities (expressed as weights per gallon at 62F) appropriate to the graduations on the hydrometer be determined by actual observation. This instrument was designed for the determination; it is based on an earlier design of William Nicholson, the weights being loaded on the upper scale spindle projecting out of the liquid.

Details

Category:
Experimental Chemistry
Object Number:
1954-399
Materials:
ivory, brass (copper, zinc alloy), platinum (metal) and mahogany (wood)
Measurements:
overall: 165.1 mm x 53.97 mm x 63.5 mm,
type:
gravimeter, hydrometer
credit:
National Maritime Museum

Parts

Four platinum weights in circular ivory box.

Four platinum weights in circular ivory box.

Four platinum weights, 1, 2, 3 & 6 grains, in circular threaded ivory box, unsigned, possibly by Robert Brettell Bate, 1830.

Materials:
ivory and platinum (metal)
Object Number:
1954-399 Pt2
type:
weights