Magnetometer

Object Details

Bausch, Lomb, Saegmuller Co.

Description

The Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington designed this type of theodolite magnetometer by combining the best features of the Coast and Geodetic Survey instrument and that used on the Magnetic Survey of India. Bausch, Lomb, Saegmuller Co. made several instruments of this sort. This example is marked "B & L Z S ROCHESTER, N.Y. 6790" and "No. 8." The "Z" in the inscription refers to the Carl Zeiss works in Jena, a Bausch & Lomb affiliate.

Internal records indicate that the D.T.M. purchased this example in 1908, for a cost of $616.50. In early 1918, it was modified for use in extremely cold climates: some of its elements were sealed to avoid condensation, and the parts frequently touched were covered with celluloid. It was then used on the "Maud" expedition that Roald Amundsen led to the Arctic in 1918-1921; the second Amundsen expedition to the Arctic in 1922-1925; the Byrd expedition to the Antarctic in 1928-1930; and the United States expedition to the Antarctic in 1939-1941. The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey borrowed it for the Nanook expedition in 1946, and did not return it to the D.T.M. The U.S. Geological Survey acquired this instrument when it took over the geomagnetic program of the federal government, and transferred it to the Smithsonian in 1982.

Ref: Bausch, Lomb, Saegmuller Co., Astronomical, Engineering and Other Instruments of Precision (Rochester, N.Y., 1907), pp. 42-43.

J. A. Fleming, "Comparisons of Magnetic Observatory Standards by the Carnegie Institution of Washington," Terrestrial Magnetism 16 (1911): 61-84, on 62-63.

H. U. Sverdrup,"Magnetic, Atmospheric-Electric, and Auroral Results, Maud Expedition, 1918-1925," in Carnegie Institution of Washington. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. Land Magnetic and Electric Observations, 1918-1926(Washington, D.C. 1927), pp. 309-524, on 313-316.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey

ID Number

1982.0671.11

accession number

1982.0671

catalog number

1982.0671.11

Object Name

magnetometer

Physical Description

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 26 3/4 in x 14 in x 7 3/4 in; 67.945 cm x 35.56 cm x 19.685 cm

overall in case: 7 1/4 in x 26 1/4 in x 13 1/2 in; 18.415 cm x 66.675 cm x 34.29 cm

Place Made

United States: New York, Rochester

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Science & Mathematics

Measuring & Mapping

National Museum of American History

Subject

Science & Scientific Instruments

Science & Scientific Instruments

Record ID

nmah_1029298

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-493b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa