HMS Challenger specimen [Sc0963]
1876
glass, organic sediment, 80mm L x 10mm W
This sample of Globigerina ooze was dredged from the South Atlantic Ocean bed during the Challenger Expedition that began in 1872 and [...]
Antirrheoscope (Optical illusion demo) [Sc0595]
Early 20th century
wood, card, 152mm W x 85mm D x 134mm H
Croft wrote in one of his scrapbooks: “Antirrheoscope – I made one for the lab with spiral on the end”, which we believe to be this [...]
Trumpet organ pipe [Sc0289]
19th century
tin, brass, 395mm L x 55mm Dia
Made by Hill & Son of London, the label on this organ pipe says: “Trumpet. Middle C. 256 Obtained from Messrs Hill 1885. They were [...]
Newton & Co. Gyroscope [Sc0076]
Late 19th century
wood, brass, steel, 180mm H x 137mm W x 87mm D
When the gyroscope is spinning with its axis near vertical, gravity provides a couple trying to make it fall off its pivot. This causes [...]
Geissler tube [Sc0067]
Late 19th to early 20th century
glass, brass, 160mm L x 23mm Dia
Geissler tubes were the precursor to gas discharge lamps and spectral lamps. This one was probably bought by Croft to demonstrate [...]
Meopta field microscope [Sc0593]
Mid 20th century
metal, glass, 140mm Dia x 200mm H
This compound microscope has a single eyepiece and three lens objective. There would have been a class set of these that would have [...]
Crystal ‘cat’s whisker’ diode [Sc0110]
Mid 20th century
brass, wood, ebonite, germanium crystal, 90mm L x 125mm W x 79mm H
A commercial crystal from an early 20th Century radio set has been mounted on to a piece of wood. The diode would have been used to [...]
Diatoms lantern slide [Pc05]
Late 19th century
glass, 82mm square x 2mm
This is one of many lantern slides in our collection, many of them home-made by Croft and his pupils. Images of science phenomena would [...]
WB Croft Scrapbook, No. 1 [Sc0569]
Late 19th to early 20th century
paper, card, 240mm L x 190mm W x 40mm H
The first scrapbook in our collection of scrapbooks created by our first physics teacher, William Bleaden Croft, who taught here from [...]
Cork roller [Sc0519]
20th century
Cast iron, 250mm L x 95mm W x 60mm H
In the days before rubber bungs were invented, corks would have been pushed into glassware regularly. This gadget would have softened [...]