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Iron Wire

Astronomy

This object is a glass, cylindrical test tube-like container with a round cork in the top. It contains a number of rigid iron wires approximately 8cm long. A label is wrapped around the glass.

Accession Number: 2018.ast.58

Alternative Name: Iron Wire for Standardizing

Primary Materials: Glass, Metal: Iron, Paper, Wood: Cork

Markings:

Printed on the label: “Iron Wire for Standardizing”

“3” lengths”

“Maximum Limits of Impurities Fe – 99.7%”

Dimensions (cm): Length = 15.7, Diameter = 1.6.

Function:

This iron wire was likely used as a control sample for calibrating/standardizing a spectrophotometer.

Condition:

Good: The glass container, cork and label are in very good condition. The iron wires are rusted on the majority of their surfaces.

Associated Instruments:

Manufacturer: Central Scientific Company (CenCo)

Date of Manufacture: Early-Mid 20th Century

Provenance:

This object was likely moved from the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill in 2008, upon the sale of the observatory. It was stored at the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics until 2017, when it was moved to a new storage location in McLennan Physical Laboratories.

Additional Information and References:

Historical Notes:

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