| RefNo | MOB/058 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Magnetic surface model by Ferdinand Engel |
| Artist | Engel, Ferdinand |
| Date | 1840-1845 |
| Description | Plaster model of a three-dimensional surface intended to represent the seasonal changes of Philadelphia's magnetic fields. Printed inscription on model side: 'Model of the magnetic surface presented in the discussion Part II of the magnetic observations made at the Girard College Philadelphia between 1840 and 1845, by Prof. A.D. Bache. Const. and modeled by Ferdinand Engel, Washington, D.C. 1862.' The observations which this model records are described in a 36-page pamphlet published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1863. |
| Extent | 1 instrument |
| ObjectName | Scientific Instrument |
| Materials | Plaster |
| Notes | On loan to the Science Museum, early 20th century- 2019 |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Provenance | Exact provenance unknown, however, evidence that the Royal Society was in contact with Alexander Dallas Bache on his terrestrial magnetism research is present in the Society's volumes of correspondence on the same [MS/119/1/99].
Likely a copy of the model made for the Smithsonian Institution, which published Bache's written account of his magnetic observations in 1859. [Alexander Dallas Bache, "Discussion of Magnetic and Meteorological Observations Made at the Girard College Observatory, Philadelphia, from 1840 to 1845," Smithsonian Institution Contributions to Knowledge]. |
| URLDescription | Digital version available on The Royal Society Picture Library |
| URL | https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-18187 |