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Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

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  • French Ebullioscope used in the Wine Industry for Measuring the Alcohol Content of Wine and Champagne – L Levesque -19th Century

    French Ebullioscope used in the Wine Industry for Measuring the Alcohol Content of Wine and Champagne – L Levesque -19th Century

    An ebullioscope is an instrument for measuring the alcohol content of wine. This superb example was made by L. Levesque. It is complete in its original case with rather tired but original leaflet of instructions.

    The scientific principle was invented in 1838 by Honore Brossard-Vidal. The advantage of this method is that the boiling point of wine is insensitive to sugar content whilst the previous method using specific gravity is not. The boiling point of water is 100 degC whilst pure alcohol is 78.4 degC. Alcohol content will therefore increase proportionately as the boiling point of wine moves lower.

    The ebullioscope consists of a conical boiler fixed on a circular foot, which carries a thermos siphon heated by an alcohol lamp. The boiler is closed by a screw cap with two holes; in one a cooling column is placed which facilitates the condensation of the vapours of the liquids brought to the boil, in the other a bent thermometer is placed with a graduated scale. Zeroing the instrument is done by boiling water (100 degC) every day to allow for changes in atmospheric pressure0. Having emptied the boiler of water then introduce the wine or champagne that requires investigating.

    The instrument is about 60 cm high assembled and weighs just less than 4.0 kgs in its case.

    See www.museedesconfluences.fr for an identical item dated 1860 – 1864

    19th Century French Ebullioscope – Do not rely on labels test your wine this evening!

    $260.00

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  • The Antiquity of Man – Arthur Keith – 2 Volumes (Piltdown Man)

    The Antiquity of Man – Arthur Keith – 2 Volumes (Piltdown Man)

    1928 edition by Sir Arthur Keith’s first published 1925 as a single volume. Reviewed and enhanced.

    A famous work in that it includes several chapters on the greatest scientific hoax ever … The Piltdown Man … there should be a BBC mini-series on this crime. Charles Dawson discovered the skull fragments that were to provide the “missing link” between apes and man. He was then assisted by the distinguished Dr Smith Woodward. In this book Keith is not sure at all and his chapter headed “The difficulties of reconstruction” alludes to error and alternative interpretations and perhaps even the reality. The reality was exposed in1953 when the bones were found to have consisted of the mandible and some teeth of an orangutan combined with the cranium of a small brained modern human. Grafton Elliot Smith a fellow anthropologist sided with Dawson and Woodward at the Royal Society claiming that Keith’s views were motivated by ambition. Keith later recalled “Such was the end of our long friendship”.

    Whilst Piltdown makes the book special there are other excellent anthropological finds well written up, not the least being the Pleistocene skull found at Talgai (near Warwick Queensland) in 1884 but brought out of a cupboard in 1914 and properly categorised by Sir T.W. Edgeworth David …. Robert Etheridge also had a hand.

    Much could be said about the author Sir Arthur Keith whose interest in the origins of man stemmed from being put in charge of the Museum of the Royal Society of Surgeons at an early age.

    We have included an image of the painting of key players investigating the skull of Piltdown Man … Arthur Keith is seated in the middle with Dawson and Smith Woodward standing behind him to the right …. note a painting of Charles Darwin on the wall behind the group.

    Early Man and Piltdown examined but not exposed

    $90.00

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  • Fine Binding – Magnetism – Sir W Snow Harris -1850

    Fine Binding – Magnetism – Sir W Snow Harris -1850

    Rudimentary Magnetism: being a Concise Exposition of the General Principles of Magnetical Science and the Purpose to which it has been Applied.

    Published by John Weale, London in 1850-52. Three parts in two (as issued) 159, 186 and 152 with all preliminaries bound finely in full calf, spine richly gilt with raised bands and black title label.

    A very good copy of an important mid-19th Century work on electricity and magnetism. A good gift for a worthy scientific mind.

    Finely bound 19th Century Scientific Work

    $120.00

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  • Exquisite Fungi Model – Boletus Pinophilus

    Exquisite Fungi Model – Boletus Pinophilus

    French (who else) model of the edible fungi Boletus Pinophilus. Made likely just after WWII and still in near perfect condition. Stands 17 cms tall and is made to a high standard. Commonly known as the Pine Bolete or Pinewood King Bolete this beauty is regarded as a form of porcini.

    Quite common in Europe in pine forests – including Scotland and the South of France where it seems to be more prolific. The flesh is white, soft and does not change colour when bruised. The taste is pleasant and has been likened to pork and pork crackling (yummy).

    Collectable Fungi for those that understand and desire them. Click on me to see my proud fungusness!

    $290.00

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  • The Monitory Lizard – Shaw and Nodder – 1790

    The Monitory Lizard – Shaw and Nodder – 1790

    The Monitory or Black Lizard first described with this image by Shaw. The name “Monitor” came from a belief that in the vicinity of a Crocodile this lizard would produce a high shrill cry which would provide a warning that Crocodiles are about. Seemingly, not to be relied upon.

    Copper engraved and hand coloured by Shaw & Nodder and published in London in 1790 (dated in the plate). Shaw was in charge of the Natural History Department at the British Museum. Frederick Nodder was a natural history artist and worked for Banks on his Florilegium.

    $190.00 framed in Voyager Natural History Style or $90.00 unframed

    Click on me to see me all!

    $90.00

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  • Antique Microscope Slide – Spines of Echinus (Sea Urchin) c1865

    Antique Microscope Slide – Spines of Echinus (Sea Urchin) c1865

    Mid 19th Century slide from a quality maker likely Wheeler given the stunning gold and blood red paper cover.

    Good example of spines of echinus (sea urchin) in deep mount.

    Click on the image to see the whole slide

    $40.00

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