Menu Close

Ammeter (Weston)

Physics

A wooden base with 3 metal terminals on the lower part of the base. The two left-most terminals are connected together with a resistor. The rest of the wooden base holds a scale with a needle. The scale reads from 0-15.

Accession Number: 2009.ph.200

Alternative Name: Milliammeter, Ampere Meter

Primary Materials:

Case: Metal, Wood, Brass. Instrument: Glass, Paper

Markings:

Top of dial: ‘WESTON MILLIAMMETER’, ‘MODEL 289 NO. 43027’, ‘WESTON ELEC. INST. CORP. NEWARK, N.J., U.S.A.’ Electrical Component: ‘CPH1/2’, ‘1%’, ‘1470’. Top of Base: in pencil: ‘R’. Bottom of base: in pencil: ‘300’, ’66’, ’40’, and other illegible numbers. Paper dial: MODEL 260 NO 43026′, ‘1.5 MA FULL SCALE’

Dimensions (cm):

Height = 8.5 cm, Length = 15cm, Width = 15 cm

Function:

Making precise measurements of electric current.

Condition:

The instrument is solid and in stable condition, with minimal chipping to the wooden base and the black paint on the metal. There is some rust where the paint is missing, and the right side of the maker’s label is oxidised. There are pencil marks on the bottom of the base, and below the dial. One of the brass screws below the dial is missing.

Associated Instruments:

Manufacturer:

Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation, Newark, New Jersey, U

Date of Manufacture:

Provenance:

This artifact was part of a collection of electrical instruments (mostly brass electrometers and ballistic galvanometers) gathered by University of Toronto Professor of Physics Martin J.G. Lee (d. 2009). The collection was likely acquired from Dr. Lee’s office c. 2010 or 2011.

Additional Information and References:

Historical Notes:

Themes: