Headrest
Classification:
Date:
ca. 1848
Medium:
Iron, wood, paint
Dimensions:
Overall (a): 15 1/4 in. × 7 1/4 in. × 2 in. (38.7 × 18.4 × 5.1 cm)
Overall (b): 19 in. × 2 1/2 in. (48.3 × 6.4 cm
Description:
Headrest used for daguerreotype portraiture, in two pieces; straight wood dowel with adjustable iron clamp at lower end and iron socket at opposite end (a); adjustable iron horns in the form of a semicircle attached to one end of a second wood dowel (b), which fits into iron socket.
Credit Line:
Purchase, Abbott Fund
Object Number:
1954.232ab
Gallery Label:
Headrests such as this one were used to help the sitter for a daguerreotype portrait remain still for the length of the exposure, which would take about twenty seconds.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1848
eMuseum Object ID:
38256
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Barometer
Classification:
Date:
1838-1853
Medium:
Metal, glass, wood, mercury
Dimensions:
Overall: 3 x 37 x 5 in. ( 7.6 x 94 x 12.7 cm )
Description:
(not examined due to mercury contamination)
Credit Line:
Permanent Loan from the Beekman Family Association
Object Number:
1948.543
Gallery Label:
This barometer was made by Benjamin Pike & Son, opticians and manufacturers of mathematical instruments. They worked at 166 Broadway from 1838 to 1853.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1853
eMuseum Object ID:
34644
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Compass
Classification:
Date:
1860-1890
Medium:
Brass, glass, paper
Dimensions:
Overall: 1/2 x 1 3/8 in. ( 1.3 x 3.5 cm )
Description:
Compass in cylindrical brass case with flat, circular lid; compass markings printed in black on white paper affixed inside case; glass covers top of case.
Object Number:
INV.4668f.1-2
Marks:
handwritten in pencil: on scrap of paper found with object: "Charles S. Lewis? / compass / died May 11, 1891 / (F. Maurice Newton's / maternal grandfather.)"
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1890
eMuseum Object ID:
32885
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Weight
Classification:
Date:
1750-1850
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
Overall: 1/4 x 5/8 x 5/8 in. ( 0.6 x 1.6 x 1.6 cm )
Description:
Square brass weight with English hallmark and six circles impressed on either side.
Object Number:
INV.505
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
32884
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Camera and accessories
Classification:
Date:
1885-1895
Medium:
Wood, metal, glass, leather
Dimensions:
Overall: 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 11 in. ( 18.4 x 18.4 x 27.9 cm )
Description:
Wooden, detective box camera with leather strap handle; hinged door on side with push-button release opens to reveal three double 4 x 5 inch glass plate negatives in wooden frames and clip mount holding 3 3/4 x 4 3/4 inch ground glass in wooden frame; interior lens with push-button shutter; rectangular viewing window in top and removable back panel; small, round hole (possibly for mounting on tripod) in bottom.
Credit Line:
Gift of John V. Irwin
Object Number:
1947.21
Marks:
printed: on rectangular ivory plaque inside door: "THE BLAIR CAMERA CO. / BOSTON. / PATENTED MARCH 29TH 87 / MAY 20TH 90 / OTHER PATENTS PENDING"
printed: on one plate holder: "PATENTED, MAY 15, '83" and "THE BLAIR CAMERA CO. / PATENTED FEB 9TH, 1875. /
Gallery Label:
According to the accession records, this camera was used by the donor to photograph sights in Central Park. At the time, this required a permit from the New York City Parks Department.
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1895
eMuseum Object ID:
32861
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Calendar gauge and compass
Classification:
Date:
1870-1900
Medium:
Glass, brass, textile
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 3/4 x 3 in. ( 4.4 x 7.6 cm )
Description:
Calendar and compass encased in flattened, colorless glass sphere with circular brass base; inscriptions in black on white face, with numbers 1-31 surrounding perimeter of outer circle and inner circle with "XII" at top, names of the months and days arranged around small dials to the left and right, and compass dial with circular brass frame at bottom center; needles indicating day of the month, name of the month, and name of the day of the week are set manually with three adjusting screws on underside of base; short, salmon colored textile fringe surrounds top of base.
Object Number:
INV.14317
Marks:
printed in black: on dial face: "Calendrier" and "JAN. FEV. MAR. [etc.]" on left side of inner circle
printed in black: on dial face: ""Meridien" and "DIM. LUN. MAR. [etc.]" on right side of inner circle
printed in black: on dial face: "XII" at to
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
32353
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Yardstick with case
Classification:
Date:
1850-1900
Medium:
Brass, wood
Dimensions:
Overall: 37 x 1 1/2 x 1 3/8 in. ( 94 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm )
Description:
Brass yardstick with impressed numbers and graduation marks; wooden case with open top and bottom.
Object Number:
INV.7851a-d
Marks:
stamped: on one side of yardstick: "J. MEAD", ". . . BROWN / N. YORK", "C. SEALER", and "1855"
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
32315
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Scale
Classification:
Date:
1850-1900
Medium:
Iron, brass
Dimensions:
Overall: 12 1/2 x 5 x 2 1/4 in. ( 31.8 x 12.7 x 5.7 cm )
Description:
Scale with crescent shaped piece of sheet brass marked with calibrations enclosed in an iron band bent into an oval, with needle hinged to overlapping end; with large cast iron ring at the top from which apparatus is suspended, and two cast iron hooks and another, smaller ring joined to outside of oval.
Object Number:
INV.766
Gallery Label:
This object may be an example of a spring scale, a type in which measurement is based on the deformation of some elastic material (in this case the iron band bent into an oval with overlapping ends).
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1900
eMuseum Object ID:
31914
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Calipers
Classification:
Date:
1750-1850
Medium:
Brass
Dimensions:
Overall: 4 x 1 1/4 x 1/2 in. ( 10.2 x 3.2 x 1.3 cm )
Description:
Brass calipers with oval grip and ornamental detailing at top of legs.
Object Number:
INV.5471h
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
31863
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Calipers
Classification:
Date:
1750-1850
Medium:
Brass, iron, other metal
Dimensions:
Overall: 5 x 1 1/4 x 5/8 in. ( 12.7 x 3.2 x 1.6 cm )
Description:
Brass, iron, and lead(?) calipers; brass ball grip with horizontal tab extension; one brass leg with iron tip, and one with brass upper half and detachable lower half made of lead(?).
Object Number:
INV.5471fg
Date Begin:
0
Date End:
1850
eMuseum Object ID:
31861
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
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