Menu Close

Recording Carriage

Unidentified · IHPST

This device consists of an aperture of horizontal metal bars set on two pillars attached to a metal base. Two of these metal bars form a support structure, and between them is a round grooved rod with a round plate attached at either end. The smaller of these plates has jagged metal teeth, and the larger is marked with a numerical scale around the edge. Each number corresponds to a slit in the plate, and a metal blade fits into these slits to steady the grooved rod. This blade is clamped with a brass knob, and there are similar knobs at either end of the grooved rod on the metal aperture.
Also on this aperture, resting on the horizontal bars, is a metal fixture to which is attached a blade pointer, which points to a horizontal scale affixed to the base of the aperture. To the top of one of the pillars is affixed a large dial, marked to measure up to ten litres. On the face of this dial are four smaller dials each marked to measure litres and cubic metres in different increments. There is a dial on on end of the metal base that adjusts how the instrument is propped up; at the other end are four bolts, two completely screwed in and two partially screwed in.

Accession Number: 2013.ihpst.18

Alternative Name:

Primary Materials: Metal

Markings:

On the dial: “”Ten Litres” and numbers clockwise from 1-10. On the smaller dials: “100 Cub Meteres” numbered clockwise from 9 to 0″; “10 Cub metres” numbered clockwise from 0 to 9; “1000 Litres” numbered clockwise from 9 to 0; “100 Litres” numbered clockwise from o to 9. On the flat round plate: Numbered 0 through 3, and divided into increments of 4.

Dimensions (cm): Height = 32.5, Length = 66, Width = 13

Function:

This carriage is intended to transfer small movements, such as the movement of muscles, to a recording kymograph. Its precise use is not known.

Condition:

Good: some rust and tarnishing, and the dial faces are worn and dirty.

Associated Instruments:

Manufacturer: Pirard & Coeurdevache, Paris

Date of Manufacture:

Provenance:

Possibly purchased alongside (and intended to be used with), this <a href=https://utsic.utoronto.ca/wpm_instrument/horizontal-kymograph/>horizontal kymograph</a>, now part of the Psychology collection. Both seem to date from the Department of Physiology at University of Toronto.

Additional Information and References:

Historical Notes:

Themes: