This is a large wooden box with an attached smaller wooden box at the rear of the object with six small slots to store small components. There is a hinged wooden flap on side of large box and on bottom there is a hinged door which opens the one side of the large box and allows access to the interior. Once opened, this door reveals a laminated operating manual affixed to its backside. The space inside the box includes a metal box with wires attached, and a number of loose components, including three individual small glass lightbulbs connected to short lengths of red wire (stored upright), metallic and glass pieces.
The large box has a metal plated top which holds metal switches, two plastic dials, one round slot and one rectangular slot. In the round slot there is found a long cylindrical glass vial. This metal plate is held on by a number of screws. The rectangular slot fits slides with coloured glass inset in plastic frames. These glass slide cartridges are stored in the small attached box.
Emerging from the large box are four different wires coated in black plastic insulation. One ends in a female socket, one is a male prong, the other two are metal electrical contact components.
Accession Number: 2021.zoo.75
Alternative Name:
Wood, Metal, Rubber, Plastic, Paper, Glass, Wire
Interior, on the manual: “OPERATION OF THE EVELYN PHOTOELECTRIC COLORIMETER”
On the metal box in the interior: “52864”.
Exterior plaque: “EVELYN PHOTOELECTRIC COLORIMETER, RUBICON CO. PHILADELPHIA, SERIAL No. 52857”
Labels for switches on the face plate: “COLORIMETER LAMP BRIGHTER”, “COLORIMETER LAMP ON”, “GALVANOMETER LAMP ON”, “MICRO MACRO”,
Labels for dials on the face plate: “COARSE”, “FINE”.
On a small metal plaque at the front of the box: “MADE IN U.S.A”
End of the power cord: “Beiden, UL, 1,856.108, pat nos. ?”
There are varying identifying numbers on the slide cartridges.
Dimensions (cm): Length: 30.5, Width: 21.5, Height: 27.
This instruments measures changes in colours and colour density of a substance in order to conduct chemical analysis of that substance. This colorimeter can be operated in both “macro” and “micro” modes.
Good: On the front plaque there is residue and staining, possible corrosion. The slide cartridges are in various conditions. One is intact, two are broken and missing 1 glass lens each. The metal rods of these cartridges show signs of corrosion.
The small attached box shows signs of liquid damage on the wood surface.
The exterior of large box exhibits knicks, scratches, small spot on front of stain and deterioration of the wood finish. The interior of the box is in good condition with no visible corrosion, wear, or deterioration.
The rubber of the powercords is drying and deteriorated in places. The metal ends are corroded.
Associated Instruments:
Manufacturer: Rubicon Company, Philadelphia , PA
Date of Manufacture: 1950s
This object was donated to the IHPST in 1982 by the University of Toronto Department of Zoology. It had been collected by Zoology professor George F. Holeton (d. 1980) along with a number of other instruments, and was donated by John H. Booth.
<a href=http://collections.peabody.yale.edu/search/Record/YPM-HSI-040331.E>Rubicon catalogue</a> at the The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale, with the Colorimeter on the cover. This shows the instrument connected to a galvanometer.
An identical item is held by the <a href=https://mhc.andornot.com/en/permalink/artifact5957>Kingston Museum of Healthcare, Canada</a> and one is on display in the digital collection of the <a href=https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/8p58pc99n>Science History Institute, USA.</a>
A letter from John H. Booth at the Department of Zoology to IHPST Professor Trevor Levere dated June 3, 1982 lists this instrument among a number that were donated from the collection of Professor G.H. Holeton (d. 1980) by John H. Booth. (UTSIC Archive, File 1982)
Historical Notes:
- Donated to UTSIC