Galvanometer Collection

19th Century electrical equipment
Technical illustrations of a variety of items of 19th century electrical equipment covering Galvanism, electro-magnetism, magneto-electricity and thermo-electricity

Wheatstone's needle (pointer) telegraph, 1890
3479996 Wheatstone's needle (pointer) telegraph, 1890; (add.info.: Wheatstone's needle (pointer) telegraph; the sender; left and receiver, 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Wheatstone's Signal electromagnetic telegraph, 1890
3479994 Wheatstone's Signal electromagnetic telegraph, 1890; (add.info.: Wheatstone's Signal ABC electromagnetic telegraph.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A galvanometer shown here operated by a simple wet cell
5311728 A galvanometer shown here operated by a simple wet cell; (add.info.: 19th century drawing of a galvanometer shown here operated by a simple wet cell. 1881.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479983 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

Testing the 1865 Atlantic telegraph cable on board the Great Eastern, 1866
3478944 Testing the 1865 Atlantic telegraph cable on board the Great Eastern, 1866; (add.info.: Testing the 1865 Atlantic telegraph cable on board the Great Eastern 17 August 1866)

Rear elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1890
3479995 Rear elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1890; (add.info.: Rear elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph; showing the current reverser)

Sending a high speed message on the Wheatstone Automatic telegraph, 1879
3479997 Sending a high speed message on the Wheatstone Automatic telegraph, 1879; (add.info.: Sending a high speed message on the Wheatstone Automatic telegraph; General Post Office; St)

Illustration depicting a Galvanometer showing magnet and rotating coil. A galvanometer is an electromechanical
5311474 Illustration depicting a Galvanometer showing magnet and rotating coil. A galvanometer is an electromechanical instrument used for detecting and indicating electric current

Lord Kelvin receiving Transatlantic telegraph, apparatus in use
5311729 Lord Kelvin receiving Transatlantic telegraph, apparatus in use; (add.info.: Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) receiving Transatlantic telegraph, apparatus in use at Brest, France 1877

An engraving depicting a double-needle telegraph used in the House of Parliament
5311158 An engraving depicting a double-needle telegraph used in the House of Parliament. The letters of the alphabet and a variety of conventional signals indicated by single

Front elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1850
3479993 Front elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Front elevation of Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479988 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479985 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1874
3479992 Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph, 1874; (add.info.: Cooke and Wheatstone's single needle telegraph showing; left; the front elevation with the alphabet)

Wheatstone's relay, 1890
3479990 Wheatstone's relay, 1890; (add.info.: Wheatstone's relay; which enabled the electric telegraph to be used over a long distance, 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479987 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479986 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850
3479984 Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Cooke & Wheatstone's double needle telegraph)

Torpedo and Mining Operations by the British Mediterranean Fleet at Corfu (engraving)
1041082 Torpedo and Mining Operations by the British Mediterranean Fleet at Corfu (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Lord Kelvin, an electrical genius (b / w photo)
3091453 Lord Kelvin, an electrical genius (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lord Kelvin, an electrical genius)

An early galvanometer, a type of ammeter, a measuring instrument used to measure
2619091 An early galvanometer, a type of ammeter, a measuring instrument used to measure the electric current in a circuit, from Les Merveilles de la Science

Electricity, c1891
Electricity. Various aspects of electricity and electrical apparatus, including Edelmanns Quarter-Cylinder Electrometer (1), Leyden Jar (2), Wimshurst Influence Machine (3), Electrophorus (4, 5)

Thomas Edisons generator for electric light at his home at Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA, 1879. Behind the doors is the 80 hp engine

Lord Kelvins mirror galvanometer, 1876. William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) devised this instrument for measuring small electric currents

Lord Kelvins transatlantic telegraph, 1877. Artist: John Wright Oakes
Lord Kelvins transatlantic telegraph, 1877. William Thomsons (Lord Kelvin) (1824-1907) receiving apparatus used at Brest, France, including his mirror galvanometer (left)

Faradays electromagnetic induction experiment, 1882. The inner coil is connected to a liquid battery, the outer coil to a galvanometer

Lord Kelvin, caricature C015 / 6712
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907). Caricature of the British physicist and mathematician William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin. Kelvin was co-discoverer in 1852 of the Joule-Thomson effect

How wireless beacons guide ships in the fog
The Marconi invention can determine distance of the ship from the beacon to steer the vessel into a Harbour during foggy weather

Jimmy the Bulldog at the Royal Society
Jimmy, a Bulldog owned by Dr A.D.Waller, takes part in an experiment at the Royal Society, Burlington House, London. With one fore-leg

William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) Scottish physicist and mathematician. Second law of thermodynamics: Temperature scale: Atlantic telegraph cable: Mirror galvanometer

Faradays experiment. Electromagnetic induction: inner coil connected to liquid battery, outer coil to galvanometer. Print published London 1882

Edison generator for electric light at Menlo Park. Behind doors is the 80 hp engine. The two vignettes (top) are Edisons improved form of JW Trowbridges electric dynamometer

Giant galvanometer (instrument for measuring small electric currents) in the Physics Laboratory, Cornell University, USA. Wood engraving 1886

William Thomsons (Lord Kelvin 1824-1907) mirror galvanometer, instrument for measuring small electric currents. Wood engraving 1876

Transatlantic telegraph. William Thomsons (Lord Kelvin 1824-1907) receiving apparatus used at Brest, including his mirror galvanometer (left)

Power control cabinets in Baikonur museum
Russian power control cabinets in Baikonur space museum, Kazakhstan

Faraday on electromagnetism, 1831
Faraday on electromagnetism. Page from the notebooks of British physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867), showing notes and a diagram of an electromagnetic generator

Lord Kelvin, British physicist C013 / 7704
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907). 19th Century artwork by Leslie Ward ( Spy ) of the British physicist and mathematician William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin

Early electrical equipment, historical artwork. Most of the items are different types of batteries (technically called cells)

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In the 19th century, amidst the rapid advancements in electrical equipment, one invention stood out - the galvanometer. This remarkable device played a crucial role in various fields, including torpedo and mining operations by the British Mediterranean Fleet at Corfu. Lord Kelvin, an esteemed electrical genius captured in a black and white photo, was instrumental in its development. The galvanometer served as a type of ammeter, enabling precise measurements of electricity around c1891. The significance of this instrument is evident when we consider Thomas Edison's generator for electric light at his home in Menlo Park, New Jersey. It was through the use of galvanometers that Edison could accurately monitor and control his groundbreaking invention. One notable version was Lord Kelvin's mirror galvanometer from 1876. Its innovative design allowed for even more accurate readings and became widely adopted across scientific experiments during that era. Another milestone came with Lord Kelvin's transatlantic telegraph project in 1877. Artist John Wright Oakes beautifully depicted this monumental achievement where the galvanometer played a vital role in transmitting messages across vast distances. The importance of electromagnetic induction experimentation conducted by Faraday himself cannot be overlooked either. His work paved the way for further advancements utilizing galvanometers to harness electricity's potential. Beyond scientific applications, these instruments found practical use guiding ships through foggy waters using wireless beacons. These navigational aids relied on precise measurements provided by galvanometers to ensure safe passage for seafarers. Even Jimmy the Bulldog made an appearance at the Royal Society alongside these remarkable devices. Such was their impact on society that they became subjects of caricatures like Lord Kelvin portrayed humorously as C015 / 6712. Throughout history, few inventions have had such far-reaching implications as the galvanometer. From revolutionizing industries like mining and telegraphy to illuminating homes with electric light or aiding navigation through treacherous waters, this measuring instrument truly shaped the world we live in today.