Image
Category
Collection
On Display
Object type
Maker
Place of origin
Date

Caesium Atomic Clock, 1955.

1955

Concave diffraction grating on speculum metal

1926, May

Punch cards in tray for Pilot ACE computer

circa 1950

Polyethylene terephthalate filaments spool, 1943-1944

1943-1944

Polyethylene terephthalate filaments spool, 1943-1944

1943-1944

Wind tunnel calibration balance

1940-1960

Experimental measuring machine designed by E.M. Eden

1918

Experimental screw diameter measuring machine

1915

National Physical Laboratory at Teddington

1932-05-06

Dial gauge testing machine

1954

Transmission diffraction grating

1950-1958

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

1949

Mercury delay line from the ACE computer, NPL

1958-1967

Polyethylene terephthalate filaments spool, 1943-1944

1943-1944

National Physical Laboratory at Teddington

1932-05-06

National Physical Laboratory at Teddington

1932-05-06

Slow-speed ACE simulator, 1950

1950

Reversing gear for petrol launch engines

1905-1911

Spools of polyethylene terephthalate filaments, 1943-1944.

1943-1944

Threlfall quartz-thread gravity balance for exploration geophysics, made by Richard Threlfall and James Pollock, Australia, 1889 - 1899, later tested and modified at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, London, UK, 1923.

Threlfall quartz-thread gravity balance

1899

Automatic scale measuring laser interferometer (length comparator)

Automatic scale measuring laser interferometer (length comparator)

1964-1965

A collection of papers relating to the Board of Trade Standards Department and its successor departments. It consists of indenture certificates issued to local authorities for the examination, testing, and calibration of local standards of weight, length and volume; early 20th century weights and measures legislation and other documents from around the world; and photographs of equipment and people associated with the department.

Weights and Measures Archive

20th Century

Wind Tunnel Calibration Balance

Wind Tunnel Calibration Balance

1940-1960

Two micrometer surface testers used together and with electric bell system to measure divergence from flatness of large plane surfaces; designed and used by Dr. P.E. Shaw for experimental work in 1911.

Micrometer surface testers

1911

Taper Thread Gauge checking machine, 1934, for the measurement of the thread pitch.

Taper Thread Gauge checking machine

circa 1934

Prototype mekometer designed by National Physical Laboratory, 1965-1968

Prototype mekometer, 1965-1968

1965-1968

The prototype commercial HCN gas laser unit consisting of a discharge tube and thermally stabilised optical system capable of giving 1 mW output in the far infra-red range, 1971.

prototype HCN infra-red laser

1970-1972

Thermal conductivity apparatus for thin discs of insulating materials designed and built at the National Physical Laboratory, England, 1923.

Thermal conductivity apparatus

1901-1927

Demountable gas x-ray tube for crystallography, by the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England, 1912-1930.

Demountable gas x-ray tube for crystallography

1912-1930

Sir Patrick Moore's first surviving large telescope, nicknamed 'Oscar'. 12 1/2 inch reflecting telescope by H.N. Irving and Son, Teddington, London. Mirror by Wildey, London. Tripod not original. Bought c. 1948 and used at East Grinstead, Armagh and Surrey. Used for lunar observations, including those used by Moore to map libration zones. Acquired alongside the Archive of Sir Patrick Moore.

'Oscar', Sir Patrick Moore's first surviving large telescope

circa 1948

Eden's Screw diameter measuring machine; floating head type, 2" capacity with a pair of 14 t.p.i. needles.

Eden's screw diameter measuring machine, 1916

1916

2 Bench micrometer-heads from a bench type measuring machine,made 1924, by the N.P.L.

2 Bench micrometer-heads from a bench type measuring machine

1924