Moving magnet galvanometer with dial inscribed "Greenwich Mean Time", 1843-1897

Moving magnet galvanometer with dial inscribed "Greenwich Mean Moving magnet galvanometer with dial inscribed "Greenwich Mean

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Moving magnet galvanometer with dial inscribed "Greenwich Mean
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Moving magnet galvanometer with dial inscribed "Greenwich Mean
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Moving magnet galvanometer with dial inscribed "Greenwich Mean Time", made by Hunt and Roskell Limited, Clerkenwell, London, England, 1843-1897. The face of the instrument reads: 'This needle is deflected precisely at each hour, Hunt & Roskell Ltd, jewellers and watchmakers'.

The principle way time was distributed in Britain in the nineteenth century was by telegraph, and some of the large clock and watchmakers displayed a galvanometer in their windows to provide a time service for passers-by. These timepieces could be set accurately with a simple indicator worked by time signals telegraphed from Greenwich.

Details

Category:
Time Measurement
Object Number:
1985-76
Materials:
wood (unidentified), glass, metal (unknown), paint and copper (alloy)
Measurements:
overall: 115 mm x 115 mm x 75 mm,
type:
galvanometer
credit:
Purchased from Christie, Manson and Woods Limited