Antique Torsion Balance. New York, 1900

Delicate antique torsion balance for laboratory use, made in New York around 1900. The balance is a high-precision piece, wonderfully preserved and in perfect working order. The torsion balance, also called torsion pendulum, is used for measuring very weak forces. It is usually credited to Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, who invented it in 1777, but John Michell also designed a similar instrument sometime before 1783. Its most well-known uses were by Coulomb to measure the electrostatic force between charges to establish Coulomb's Law, and by Henry Cavendish in 1798 in the Cavendish experiment to measure the gravitational force between two masses to calculate the density of the Earth, leading later to a value for the gravitational constant (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_spring). The balance that we can see in the images is made of silvery metal and bears a riveted metal plate with the embossed manufacturers name: THE SPRINGER TORSION BALANCE CO. In order to use the balance, the user must move the small lever located at the right side of the instrument. The balances maximum weigh is 500 g.THE SPRINGER TORSION BALANCE CO, was founded in 1897. Five years later, in 1902, it changed its name to The Torsion Balance Co. This balance was made during these first 5 years. For its precision and remarkable beauty, this antique torsion balance will shine in a good collection of scientific instruments. Measurements: Width: 11.4 in / 29 cm. Height: 6.4 in / 16.5 cm.