Balance
Balance
- Description
- This is an analytical balance with a 5-inch beam, agate bearings, and wooden frame with glass sides. The inscription on the ivory scale reads: “SPOERHASE SUCC. TO C. STAUDINGER GIESSEN / A. H. THOMAS CO AGENT PHILADA 3481.” The “GESETZ GESCH.” inscription on the rider lift housing is German for legally protected.
- Carl Staudinger of Giessen began making balances in 1842, showed his wares at international exhibitions, and was succeeded by Wilhelm Spoerhase in 1888. Arthur H. Thomas began bringing Staudinger/Spoerhase balances into the United States in 1899, and soon had supplied them to “practically every University, College and Technical School” in the country; in some institutions there were upwards of 75 instruments in actual use. The importation of these balances ceased with World War I.
- Ref: German Educational Exhibition, Scientific Instruments (Berlin, 1904), p. 185.
- Arthur H. Thomas, Laboratory Apparatus (Philadelphia, 1914), pp. 46-47.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Analytical Balance
- Object Type
- Balances
- u.s. agent of manufacturer
- Arthur H. Thomas Company
- business predecessor of maker spoerhase
- C. Staudinger
- maker
- Wilhelm Spoerhase
- Place Made
- Germany: Hesse, Giessen
- Measurements
- each pan: 70 mm; x 2 3/4 in
- beam: 13 cm; 5 1/8 in
- overall: 51.8 cm x 40.3 cm x 33.8 cm; 20 3/8 in x 15 7/8 in x 13 5/16 in
- ID Number
- 1980.0597.03
- catalog number
- 1980.597.3
- accession number
- 1980.0597
- subject
- Weights & Measures
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Chemistry
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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