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History of Science Museum

Electric Recording Drum or Kymograph, by C. F. Palmer, London, c.1960

Inventory Number 89208


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.89208

Item type
Object
Provenance
Transferred from the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, in 2000.
Primary inscriptions
"ELECTRIC 12 RECORDING DRUM MADE IN ENGLAND PALMER" on motor housing.
Physical material
metal
Dimensions
Height: 550mm Width: 230mm Depth: 210mm Weight: 10.55kg
Inventory No
89208
Accession Number
2000-3/20

Description

Similar to a vertical kymograph, the instrument is made of a heavy metal motor housing base, painted green, with a brass drum mounted on a rod on top. Paper would be glued to the drum and a marker would trace recordings perpendicular to the rotation of the drum. On one side of this drum is an aluminum dial and a slider to adjust the speed of rotation. There is a plate mounted next to this headed "M.M. PER SEC. ON 6" CYLINDER" listing speeds for different gears and settings. The power cable has a standard head.