Museo Galileo
italiano
Virtual Museum
Section of Room X
 Physics and Optics Instrumentation

The Museum cabinet of physics was constantly updated with mechanical and pneumatical apparatus, electrostatic machines and measuring devices. Numerous optical instruments were also acquired: telescopes and microscopes, especially of English and French make, which allowed for significant progress in astronomical observation and in naturalistic and medical investigation.

Objects
Air pump, twin barrels, table-top model

Air pump, twin barrels, table-top model

Inv. 3777
Maker unknown, Paris, ca. 1830

Alidade for clockmaker's lathe

Alidade for clockmaker's lathe

Inv. 3599
Francesco Comelli, Bologna, ca. 1780

Altazimuth quadrant

Altazimuth quadrant

Inv. 684
Dubois, Paris, 18th cent.

Balance

Balance

Inv. 567
Maker unknown, 18th cent.

Castelli hydraulic pump (hydraulic fan)

Castelli hydraulic pump (hydraulic fan)

Inv. 1029
Maker unknown, Florence, 1794

Chinese balance

Chinese balance

Inv. 817
Maker unknown, 19th cent.

Circle-dividing engine

Circle-dividing engine

Inv. 586, 3244
Maker unknown, Florence, 1762

Lens of Archduke Leopold of Lorraine

Lens of Archduke Leopold of Lorraine

Inv. 3561
Maker unknown, second half 18th cent.

Lens-grinding lathe

Lens-grinding lathe

Inv. 3194
Andrea Frati, Florence, second half 18th cent.

Level

Level

Inv. 733
Maker unknown, late 18th cent.

Level

Level

Inv. 735
Maker unknown, Florence, second half 18th cent.

Level checker

Level checker

Inv. 725
Maker unknown, late 18th cent. - early 19th cent.

Line-dividing engine

Line-dividing engine

Inv. 1023, 3244, 3368
Maker unknown, Florence, second half 18th cent.

Mechanical equinoctial dial

Mechanical equinoctial dial

Inv. 3754
Felice Gori, Florence, ca. 1820

Medallion of Peter Leopold

Medallion of Peter Leopold

Inv. 1902
Johann Tobias Sergel, 18th cent.

Meter

Meter

Inv. 3107
Felice Gori, Florence, 19th cent.

Mobile mount for eyepiece

Mobile mount for eyepiece

Inv. 3242
Galgano Gori, Florence, 1838

Model winch

Model winch

Inv. 990
Maker unknown, second half 18th cent.

Odometer

Odometer

Inv. 2641
Dollond firm, London, late 18th cent.

Odometer

Odometer

Inv. 580
John Dollond, London, ca. 1750

Plane with variable inclination

Plane with variable inclination

Inv. 1403
Maker unknown, second half 18th cent.

Plate electrical machine

Plate electrical machine

Inv. 3766
Maker unknown, second half 18th cent.

Portrait of Peter Leopold

Portrait of Peter Leopold

Inv. 3718
L. Paradisi, Florence, 19th cent.

Prism with stand

Prism with stand

Inv. 746
Maker unknown, second half 18th cent.

Sextant

Sextant

Inv. 3723
Louis-Félix Védy firm, Paris, 19th cent.

Simple microscope, aquatic

Simple microscope, aquatic

Inv. 3233
Maker unknown, Italian?, second half 18th cent.

Simple microscope, pocket

Simple microscope, pocket

Inv. 3239
Maker unknown, French or Dutch?, early 19th cent.

Single gold-leaf electroscope, Bohnenberger type

Single gold-leaf electroscope, Bohnenberger type

Inv. 2691
Carlo Dell'Acqua, ca. 1850

Standard meter

Standard meter

Inv. 389, 3342
Ferat, Paris, 1798

Telescope with accessories

Telescope with accessories

Inv. 3340
François de Baillou, Italian, 1764

The writing hand

The writing hand

Inv. 3195
Friedrich von Knaus, 1764