wooden tray used in Beevers-Lipson calculations
Date: 1936-1956
Inventory Number: 2002-1-0084c
Classification: Calculating Device
Subject:
Maker: English
Cultural Region:
Dimensions:
2.6 × 18.8 × 45.3 cm (1 × 7 3/8 × 17 13/16 in.)
Description:
Shallow rectangular wooden tray with raised aluminum dividers 1cm apart. Thin raised wooden lip screwed to both long parallel edges.
Signedunsigned
FunctionThis is a tray used to arrange Beevers-Lipson strips.
Beevers-Lipson strips were a popular calculating method used by crystallographers to determine the structure of crystals before computers became available.
The determination of the structure of a crystal from an x-ray diffraction pattern is done by performing a Fourier Transform, a mathematical operation that requires the summation of long sequences of trigonometric functions (sines and cosines).
In this particular example, two boxes contain strips of paper with numerical values of sines in one box and cosines in the other box. The calculations would be performed by temporarily arranging the strips vertically on a tray with spacers to contain them (2002-1-0084c). Once organized, they would be kept in organized slots in the boxes.
The strips were developed at Liverpool University in 1936 by Henry Lipson and Arnold Beevers. The inventors supplied them at a low price for researchers around the world.
Another example of a box of Beevers-Lipson strips can be found in King's College, London. Its picture is available online here.
Beevers-Lipson strips were a popular calculating method used by crystallographers to determine the structure of crystals before computers became available.
The determination of the structure of a crystal from an x-ray diffraction pattern is done by performing a Fourier Transform, a mathematical operation that requires the summation of long sequences of trigonometric functions (sines and cosines).
In this particular example, two boxes contain strips of paper with numerical values of sines in one box and cosines in the other box. The calculations would be performed by temporarily arranging the strips vertically on a tray with spacers to contain them (2002-1-0084c). Once organized, they would be kept in organized slots in the boxes.
The strips were developed at Liverpool University in 1936 by Henry Lipson and Arnold Beevers. The inventors supplied them at a low price for researchers around the world.
Another example of a box of Beevers-Lipson strips can be found in King's College, London. Its picture is available online here.
ProvenancePrivate Donor, December 2002.