Scientific apparatus - What is it?

campermon · #1 by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 5:50 pm

Hi all,

Me and my lab tech have been clearing out the preprooms to get rid of old stuff. We found this piece of apparatus and have absolutely no idea what it is;

The ends come off both sides to reveal;

It's mounted on an adjustable stand and the top can swivel forwards and backwards. I put it on top of my laptop to give an idea of size (about 40cm tall);

Does anyone know what it is?

Cheers!

:beer:

Mazille · #2 by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 5:56 pm

Seems like some kind stand in which a block of metal that resembles the head of a meat mallet was fixated. Dunno what you possibly could use that for. That on the sides are screws that fixate the block, aren't they?

The_Metatron · #3 by **The_Metatron** » Jan 18, 2012 6:08 pm

Not a lot of detail. The slot in the side is interesting. Some sort of resonant cavity. Microwave?

Mazille · #4 by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 6:11 pm

Good thinking. Maybe soundwaves... :think:

campermon · #5 by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 6:18 pm

Mazille wrote:Seems like some kind stand in which a block of metal that resembles the head of a meat mallet was fixated. Dunno what you possibly could use that for. That on the sides are screws that fixate the block, aren't they?

The block thing doesn't seem to come off. The screw thingys look like they are there to make electrical connections??

It was found in a box in the old physics prep room if that helps.

campermon · #6 by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 6:23 pm

The_Metatron wrote:Not a lot of detail. The slot in the side is interesting. Some sort of resonant cavity. Microwave?

The slots are in the removable caps....

Mazille · #7 by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 6:25 pm

campermon wrote:
Mazille wrote:Seems like some kind stand in which a block of metal that resembles the head of a meat mallet was fixated. Dunno what you possibly could use that for. That on the sides are screws that fixate the block, aren't they?

The block thing doesn't seem to come off. The screw thingys look like they are there to make electrical connections??

It was found in a box in the old physics prep room if that helps.

Maybe something to show off electric discharges? Like those static electricity generators where a band runs through a metal dome.

campermon · #8 by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 6:28 pm

Mazille wrote:

Maybe something to show off electric discharges? Like those static electricity generators where a band runs through a metal dome.

Connect it to a Van der Graaff eh???

Hmmm..

One clue might be that the ends are different colours? One with shiny metallic oblongs and the other dark brown..

:ask:

Mazille · #9 by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 6:30 pm

The ends of what? Can't see different colours anywhere.

campermon · **#10** by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 6:48 pm

Mazille wrote:The ends of what? Can't see different colours anywhere.

Pictures 2 and 3 in the OP.

:thumbup:

Mazille · **#11** by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 6:56 pm

Oooooh, that you mean. I thought you meant the screws/contacts/whatever they are. Could you think of an experiment demonstrating magnetism, or something using that thing?
Maybe resistance... :think:

laklak · **#12** by **laklak** » Jan 18, 2012 6:59 pm

It's a Meat-O-Meter, used to determine if the pork has been pounded flat enough to comply with the German Schnitzel Purity Law of 1627.

Mazille · **#13** by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 7:04 pm

laklak wrote:It's a Meat-O-Meter, used to determine if the pork has been pounded flat enough to comply with the German Schnitzel Purity Law of 1627.

If it's proper Schnitzel, you don't use pork. :coffee:

laklak · **#14** by **laklak** » Jan 18, 2012 7:08 pm

Ah, but I didn't specify Wiener Schnitzel.

Of course, it can also be used on veal, though it must be re-calibrated.

ramseyoptom · **#15** by **ramseyoptom** » Jan 18, 2012 7:10 pm

It's a "Whatchmecallit".

Stick back in the cupboard, right at the back, in, say, a box with a label on it for your successor saying "Guess"!

campermon · **#16** by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 7:13 pm

PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn · **#17** by **PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn** » Jan 18, 2012 7:14 pm

I feel a bit stupid suggesting this (especially as I cant think of the name of the thing as well)

but, radiation detection. seem to remember seeing some brass thing which showed dots of light where neutrons hit the detector.

I strongly suspect it isn't but that was the first thing that jumped to mind.

Mazille · **#18** by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 7:18 pm

laklak wrote:Ah, but I didn't specify Wiener Schnitzel.

Dude, you're talking to an Austrian. Everything but Wiener Schnitzel is blasphemy and punishable by death through being covered in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and then being deep fried.

laklak wrote:Of course, it can also be used on veal, though it must be re-calibrated.

campermon · **#19** by **campermon** » Jan 18, 2012 7:18 pm

PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn wrote:I feel a bit stupid suggesting this (especially as I cant think of the name of the thing as well)

but, radiation detection. seem to remember seeing some brass thing which showed dots of light where neutrons hit the detector.

I strongly suspect it isn't but that was the first thing that jumped to mind.

Yes...a detector of some kind... The 2 side bars seem to be for connecting leads...

Perhaps a Higgs Boson detector?

Mazille · **#20** by **Mazille** » Jan 18, 2012 7:21 pm

QUICK! Call the guys at CERN!

I still maintain it's just for showing sparks to inattentive students.