This object consists of a metal stand with a tripod base. A metal pole rises straight up. Attached to the stand pole by a screw clamp is an arm that supports a small piece of wood. The piece of wood has three small hollow brass tubes running through it perpendicularly, each offset slightly so they appear stepped. The pipes have one fully open end and one that ends in a tiny pin-sized opening. The middle metal piece concludes in a ‘T’ junction and a perpendicular crosspiece, turned to a slightly diagonal angle. These pipes are attachments for gas pipes connecting to a manometric organ pipe apparatus.
Accession Number: 2016.ph.726
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Metal, wood
Markings: None.
Stand: Diameter=21cm, height=36.4; Attachment: 13.5cm x 2.0 x 10.8
This stand is intended to be used with a manometric organ pipes system in which a flame flickers in response to sound. The stand supports the connections for gas tubes that would connect bunsen burners with the manometric pipes.
The system is described in “Altered Sensations” by David Pantalony (New York: Springer, 2009):
“Both pipes rested vertically in a wind-chest and each had a capsule attached to the middle of the pipe. Each capsule had a rubber gas input tube and an output tube that connected to a stand for the burners, which were placed one on top of the other. A rotating mirror sat adjacent to the stand in order to pick up the signal from the burners. Two ut3 pipes, for example, displayed identical flame signals. Other combinations demonstrated the differences between octaves, thirds, fifths, etc.” (pg 319).
Excellent. Both stand and attachment show no visible signs of wear or use.
2013.ph.613, 2016.ph.716.1-5, 2009.ph.264
Manufacturer: Rudolph Koenig, Paris
Date of Manufacture: ca. 1878
This mirror is part of a collection of acoustic teaching apparatus purchased from Rudolph Koenig by University of Toronto professor of physics James Loudon. It was probably purchased as a set along with manometric pipes, bunsen burners, a windchest and a rotating mirror (some of which are labelled “215” referring to the set’s entry in Koenig’s 1873 catalogue), and was likely part of Loudon’s initial 1878 purchase, and form part of a comprehensive selection of organ pipes “representing a… demonstration of every possible organ pipe effect.” (Pantalony, “Altered Sensations”. New York: Springer, 2009. Pg 119-122). It was likely used by students for investigations of acoustical properties at the university’s physics department teaching laboratory.
The windchest, a rotating mirror, and five pipes that were apparently purchased as a set with this rotating mirror (many carry the Koenig catalogue number “215”, referring to the 1873 set) have been accessioned separately.
Windchest: 2013.ph.613
Manometric pipes: 2016.ph.716
Rotating mirror: 2009.ph.264
See also, “Altered Sensations” by David Pantalony (New York: Springer, 2009) pgs 317-320.
For an example of the visualisation of a flame in a rotating mirror: <a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHdL-65dkkY>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHdL-65dkkY</a> [Accessed: 10/09/2016]
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