Cumulative Recorder Built for B. F. Skinner by Ralph Gerbrands

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Description: This motorized instrument contains a rotating reel of paper with a recording pen tip. It has metal sides, a wooden door in front of the paper, and a plastic cover on top. The glass ink holder, as well as a mount for a second pen, are stored separately. The cumulative recorder was an improvement on the kymograph that allowed experimenters not merely to record of individual events, but acquire a cumulative record of animal behavior. It was invented by the psychologist B.F. Skinner. This is an early commercial model, manufactured by Ralph Gerbrands.; A mark on a tag on the motor on the left side reads in part: REG. U.S. Telechron PAT. OFF. (/) MOTOR MOVEMENT (/) TYPE 1M9A-10M V 110/120 (/) MOT MOD M 1855 CY 60 W 4. It also reads: U.S. PAT 1768386 2184342 (/) TELECHRON INC. (/) ASHLAND MASS MADE IN U.S.A.; References:; Kennon A. Lattal, “Steps and Pips in the History of the Cumulative Recorder,” Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2004, vol. 82, 329-355.; Accession File.
Location: Currently not on view

Physical Description: metal (frame, carriage, pen holder, mechanism material); plastic (cover material); paper (paper material); wood (door material); glass (ink holder material)
Measurements: overall: 17 cm x 45 cm x 23.5 cm; 6 11/16 in x 17 23/32 in x 9 1/4 in

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