Kolbe's Electrometer/Electroscope by Leppin & Masche (ca. 1900) |
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Standard box-like gold leaf electroscope (ca. 10" tall) for quantitative demonstrations of electrostatic phenomena and possibly the measurement of radioactive materials. Note the curved scale (mica) inside the chamber that is numbered 0 through 90 degrees. The single gold leaf is missing. The four sides are glass. The two sides that are not in view are covered on the inside with a metal screen to prevent static charges on the glass from affecting the movement of the gold leaf. The control arm for the charging rod projects out the lower right side of the case. Partially hidden behind this arm is a vertical brass connector that is used to ground the electroscope. Inside the case, a small ball can be seen at the angled end of the charging rod - just below an even smaller ball at the bottom of the vertical supporting rod. The brass knob towards the left is used to level the electroscope.
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In general, an electrophorus would be used to transfer a charge to the horizontal disk (Volta plate) on the top. For an explanation of how an electroscope can be charged and how an electrophorus works, click here. The makers name is stamped on the end of the wooden base: LEPPIN & MASCHE, BERLIN.SA. Leppin & Masche was a German manufacturer of scientific equipment located in Berlin. This type of electroscope was first described by Bruno Kolbe of St. Petersburg in 1889. References Bruno Kolbe. Ein einfaches Elekrometer. Zeitschrift fur den Physikalischen und Chemischen Unterricht. April 1889;153-159. I would like to express my thanks to Jean-François Loude for providing the above reference. |
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