Vibration Microscope

Vibration Microscope

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Description
The vibration microscope (or optical comparator) was used to calibrate the frequency of a tuning fork in terms of a fork of known frequency. Hermann von Helmholtz invented the form; Jules Antoine Lissajous introduced that in which the reference fork is driven electromagnetically. This electromagnetic example is inscribed “Rudolph Koenig a Paris” and was used at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Ref: Rudolph Koenig, Catalogue des Appareils d’Acoustique (Paris, 1865), p. 12.
Rudolph Koenig, Catalogue des Appareils d’Acoustique (Paris, 1889), p. 83.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
optical comparator
Maker
Rudolph Koenig
place made
France: Île-de-France, Paris
Measurements
overall: 17 1/8 in x 9 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in; 43.4975 cm x 24.13 cm x 24.13 cm
ID Number
PH.315724
accession number
217544
catalog number
315724
Credit Line
United States Military Academy
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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