Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Made:
1898 in Tokyo

Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Details

Category:
Geophysics
Object Number:
1928-279
Measurements:
overall (estimate): 1320 mm x 2895 mm x 810 mm,
type:
seismograph
credit:
Meteorological Office

Parts

Two adjustable wire hooks, recording arm and fork which would be attached to the base plate, a metal a- frame, a conical steel socket fixed to a stand, a bent metal bar that attaches to the recording arm, a straight pole with a spherical section, smoke glazed paper, a square block of lead with a threaded adjustable bar, and a small card box of spares from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Two adjustable wire hooks, recording arm and fork which would be attached to the base plate, a metal a- frame, a conical steel socket fixed to a stand, a bent metal bar that attaches to the recording arm, a straight pole with a spherical section, smoke glazed paper, a square block of lead with a threaded adjustable bar, and a small card box of spares from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Object Number:
1928-279/3
type:
seismograph
Two adjustable wire hooks from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Hooks from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Two adjustable wire hooks from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall (per hook): 115 mm x 27 mm x 30 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/3/1
type:
hook - fastener
Part of:
1928-279/3
Metal square base with sliding platform adjusted with a threaded bar with a knurled knob on one end from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Square base from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Metal square base with sliding platform adjusted with a threaded bar with a knurled knob on one end from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 40 mm x 194 mm x 120 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/3/2
type:
base - object component
Part of:
1928-279/3
Black conical component with three adjustable feet and a metal bar protruding from the top, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Conical component from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Black conical component with three adjustable feet and a metal bar protruding from the top, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 380 mm x 180 mm x 170 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1928-279/3/3
type:
component - object
Part of:
1928-279/3
Metal rod with adjustable spherical weight and a rectangular base on one end, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Metal rod from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Metal rod with adjustable spherical weight and a rectangular base on one end, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 425 mm x 90 mm x 30 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1928-279/3/4
type:
component - object
Part of:
1928-279/3
Thin metal rod with black square bracket on one end and pointed on the other likely used as a recording fork, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Thin metal rod from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Thin metal rod with black square bracket on one end and pointed on the other likely used as a recording fork, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 272 mm x 7 mm x 1 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1928-279/3/5
type:
rod
Part of:
1928-279/3
Black "A" frame, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

"A" Frame from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Black "A" frame, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 243 mm x 100 mm x 25 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1928-279/3/6
type:
frame
Part of:
1928-279/3
Footplate bracket with two bolts threaded with a washer and a nut each, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Footplate Bracket from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Footplate bracket with two bolts threaded with a washer and a nut each, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 130 mm x 248 mm x 78 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1928-279/3/7
type:
bracket - structural element
Part of:
1928-279/3
Cardboard box containing 7 metal components consisting of: One flat head bolt, two cylindrical component pointed at one end, one cyclindrical component with a threaded bar, 1 small bar and one knurled knob with a threaded bar, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Box of components from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Cardboard box containing 7 metal components consisting of: One flat head bolt, two cylindrical component pointed at one end, one cyclindrical component with a threaded bar, 1 small bar and one knurled knob with a threaded bar, from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall (knob): 55 mm x 34 mm x 34 mm,
overall (bar): 36 mm x 1 mm x 1 mm,
overall (bolt): 27 mm x 12 mm x 12 mm,
overall (box): 50 mm x 123 mm x 85 mm,
overall (cylindrical component): 28 mm x 22 mm x 22 mm,
overall (washer): 3 mm x 25 mm x 25 mm,
overall (pointed component, each): 66 mm x 25 mm x 25 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and cardboard
Object Number:
1928-279/3/8
type:
components
Part of:
1928-279/3
Stand with platform for recording fork from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Recording stand of components from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Stand with platform for recording fork from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 295 mm x 233 mm x 92 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and cardboard
Object Number:
1928-279/3/9
type:
stand - support furniture
Part of:
1928-279/3
Smoked glazed recording paper from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Recording paper from Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Smoked glazed recording paper from Seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Materials:
paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
1928-279/3/10
type:
paper
Part of:
1928-279/3
Main structure of the seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. Consisting of the vertical stand, two wires, rotating drum, and horizontal suspension frame. The seismograph combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Main structure of Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Main structure of the seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. Consisting of the vertical stand, two wires, rotating drum, and horizontal suspension frame. The seismograph combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall (crate): 480 mm x 1450 mm x 470 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/1
type:
seismograph
Black vertical stand with two connecting wires attached from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Stand for Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Black vertical stand with two connecting wires attached from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 1310 mm x 405 mm x 375 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/1/1
type:
stand - support furniture
Part of:
1928-279/1
Recording drum from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Recording Drum for Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Recording drum from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 240 mm x 790 mm x 240 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/1/2
type:
recording drum
Part of:
1928-279/1
Base for recording drum from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Base for Recording Drum for Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Base for recording drum from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 280 mm x 720 mm x 450 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/1/3
type:
base
Part of:
1928-279/1
Horizontal frame from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Horizontal frame for Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Horizontal frame from seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 105 mm x 200 mm x 1220 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/1/4
type:
frame - furnishing
Part of:
1928-279/1
Weight for seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Weight for Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

Weight for seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Measurements:
overall: 180 mm x 70 mm x 70 mm,
Object Number:
1928-279/2
type:
seismograph
A cylindrical adjustable weight that would be hung from two wires from the vertical stand and attached the horizontal beam. From seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

Weight for Omori seismograph no.2, 1898

A cylindrical adjustable weight that would be hung from two wires from the vertical stand and attached the horizontal beam. From seismograph, marked no. 2, designed by Omori Fusakichi for the Earthquake Investigation Committee, Tokyo, Japan, 1898. It combines a horizontal pendulum mechanism with an auxiliary inverted pendulum, and employs a smoked-paper recording system. The instrument was constructed in Japan, and in 1910 displayed at the Japan-British Exhibition, White City, London. Afterwards it was transferred to Eskdalemuir Observatory, Dumfriesshire, Scotland and operated intermittently until 1925, when the observatory’s seismological programme, administered by the Meteorological Office, was transferred to Kew.

More

This seismograph is an early example of a design by Japanese seismologist Omori Fusakichi (1868-1923).

Omori designed a variety of seismographs during his career. One of his designs was modified and commercialised by Strasburg maker J. & A. Bosch brothers, who created an affordable instrument which both performed reliably and was relatively easy to operate. These Bosch-Omori instruments became widely adopted in seismograph stations around the world from the early decades of the 1900s. However, this earlier Omori device in the Science Museum collections was transferred to Britain in 1910 for its display at the Japan-British exhibition, intended to exemplify both Japanese innovation and the fruitful collaboration between scientific practitioners from both nations.

After the exhibition, British seismologist John Milne negotiated with Mano Bunji, the Japanese Commissioner and President of the Earthquake Investigation Committee, to arrange a two-year loan of the seismograph to Eskdalemuir Observatory following its display. When the agreed loan period expired, it was permanently gifted to the observatory by the Japanese Education Department in exchange for an English watch.

Eskdalemuir’s seismological programme was transferred to Kew Observatory in 1925 and no further seismological work undertaken there until the 1960s, when the site became a node in the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network, or WWSSN.

Measurements:
overall: 220 mm x 550 mm x 405 mm, 60 kg
Object Number:
1928-279/4
type:
weight