high-pressure samples in six boxes
Date: 1928-1957
Inventory Number: 1999-1-0045b
Classification: High-Pressure Samples
Subject:
Maker: Percy Williams Bridgman (1882 - 1961)
Maker: Billings & Stover, Apothecaries (1854 - 2002)
Cultural Region:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
7.8 x 13.3 x 8.4 cm (3 1/16 x 5 1/4 x 3 5/16 in.)
Accessories: two small rectangular cardboard boxes
three small round cardboard boxes
one large round cardboard box
DescriptionSix cardboard boxes containing various wire and metal samples. Four of the boxes are white and round with black strips around the circumference. Two of the boxes are small and rectangular with white faces and pink strips around the sides.
The large round box contains a granite cylinder, hollowed out down the center. The granite is grey and heterogeneous. The box also contains a smaller granite cylinder in a metal casing with copper ends and a piece peeled back off the side. Two flat copper discs (possibly alternate copper ends to the casing) are also loose in the box.
Both of the small rectangular boxes contain a doughnut of tightly wound wire with connectors and two rectangular cubes of a somewhat shiny metal.
One of the small round boxes contains a thin flat disc of platinum with a red substance around parts of the circumference and loose flakes of the red material, probably broken off.
Another of the small round boxes contains a thin flat disc of lanathum with a red substance around parts of the circumference and loose flakes of the red material, probably broken off.
The third small round box contains a chunk of carbon that appears black, somewhat shiny and has a small piece broken off.
The large round box contains a granite cylinder, hollowed out down the center. The granite is grey and heterogeneous. The box also contains a smaller granite cylinder in a metal casing with copper ends and a piece peeled back off the side. Two flat copper discs (possibly alternate copper ends to the casing) are also loose in the box.
Both of the small rectangular boxes contain a doughnut of tightly wound wire with connectors and two rectangular cubes of a somewhat shiny metal.
One of the small round boxes contains a thin flat disc of platinum with a red substance around parts of the circumference and loose flakes of the red material, probably broken off.
Another of the small round boxes contains a thin flat disc of lanathum with a red substance around parts of the circumference and loose flakes of the red material, probably broken off.
The third small round box contains a chunk of carbon that appears black, somewhat shiny and has a small piece broken off.
Signedprinted in black on lid of small rectangular box: BILLINGS & STOVER. / APOTHECARIES. / 1360 Massachusetts Ave. Harvard Square. / CAMBRIDGE, MASS. / No. / MA28
printed in black on lid of small rectangular box: BILLINGS & STOVER. / APOTHECARIES. / 1360 Massachusetts Ave. Harvard Square. / CAMBRIDGE, MASS. / No. / MA27
printed in black on lid of small rectangular box: BILLINGS & STOVER. / APOTHECARIES. / 1360 Massachusetts Ave. Harvard Square. / CAMBRIDGE, MASS. / No. / MA27
Inscribedhandwritten on the original storage box: P.W. Bridgeman / Compressed & Samples etc.
handwritten on a tag attached to small square box: MA27 / Out of Anneal / Nov. 3 9 A.M.
handwritten on a tag attached to small square box: MA28 / Out of Anneal / Oct. 30 1928
handwritten in pencil on top of large round box: IE / .230 [lightly crossed out] x .562 / .229 / Quincy
Granite
handwritten in black on top of small round box: Platinum / Dummy Run / 779 Blicks / CP 118 / Mar. 5 1951
handwritten in black on top of small round box: Lanathum / CP 34 / 779 Blicks / March 28, 1951
handwritten in pencil on top of small round box: Used for / diamond / attempts / Mar 1951 / CP -
handwritten on a tag attached to small square box: MA27 / Out of Anneal / Nov. 3 9 A.M.
handwritten on a tag attached to small square box: MA28 / Out of Anneal / Oct. 30 1928
handwritten in pencil on top of large round box: IE / .230 [lightly crossed out] x .562 / .229 / Quincy
Granite
handwritten in black on top of small round box: Platinum / Dummy Run / 779 Blicks / CP 118 / Mar. 5 1951
handwritten in black on top of small round box: Lanathum / CP 34 / 779 Blicks / March 28, 1951
handwritten in pencil on top of small round box: Used for / diamond / attempts / Mar 1951 / CP -
FunctionHigh-pressure physics.
These samples were used in or produced by experiments on the properties of substances in high pressure apparatuses. The sample of carbon was used in Percy Bridgman's attempts to artificially synthesize diamonds from other materials using high pressures and temperatures.
Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd. Ed.: " Lanthanum: A rare element belonging to the group of earth metals, found in certain rare minerals, e.g. cerite; it was discovered by Mosander 1839-41. Symbol Ln."
These samples were used in or produced by experiments on the properties of substances in high pressure apparatuses. The sample of carbon was used in Percy Bridgman's attempts to artificially synthesize diamonds from other materials using high pressures and temperatures.
Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd. Ed.: " Lanthanum: A rare element belonging to the group of earth metals, found in certain rare minerals, e.g. cerite; it was discovered by Mosander 1839-41. Symbol Ln."
Historical AttributesPercy Bridgman's experimental work at Harvard University consisted mainly in the production of very high pressures and the investigation of the effects such pressures have on the properties of matter.
During the 1920s, most of Bridgman's experiments used high pressures between 12 000 and 20 000 atmospheres (12,000-20,000 kg/cm²). In order to produce such high pressures, Bridgman used a hydraulic press in conjunction with two pumps in order to produce the high pressures. See for example, 1997-1-1819a, b, c and d.
During the 1930s, Bridgman increased the pressure, reaching between 30 000 and 50 000 atmospheres using two and even three hand pumps.
Bridgman would put samples of various materials into a chamber of the press, raise the pressure inside the chamber, and then study the material samples or residues that remained afterward. He the effects of high pressures on the specific resistance, temperature coefficients, volume, electrical conductivity, shearing strength, electrical resistance, density, tensile properties, and compression. He studied these effects on all manner of substances from minerals, metals, and chemicals to plastics, glass and egg yolks. Bridgman hoped his experimental results would contribute to theories of the internal structure of atoms and molecules that were gaining attention throughout the first half of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1946 for his research.
Bridgman also did work on the synthesis of diamonds from graphite using very high pressures and temperatures. Early in 1941, the General Electric Company arranged a five year agreement with Bridgman to finance his experimental research in producing diamonds. Bridgman wanted to reverse a known process in which diamonds turn to graphite at atmospheric pressure and 1500°C. His experiments were conducted in the Harvard Geophysical Laboratory. However, Bridgman was ultimately unsuccessful in the synthesis of diamonds, and his continued research was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.
During the 1920s, most of Bridgman's experiments used high pressures between 12 000 and 20 000 atmospheres (12,000-20,000 kg/cm²). In order to produce such high pressures, Bridgman used a hydraulic press in conjunction with two pumps in order to produce the high pressures. See for example, 1997-1-1819a, b, c and d.
During the 1930s, Bridgman increased the pressure, reaching between 30 000 and 50 000 atmospheres using two and even three hand pumps.
Bridgman would put samples of various materials into a chamber of the press, raise the pressure inside the chamber, and then study the material samples or residues that remained afterward. He the effects of high pressures on the specific resistance, temperature coefficients, volume, electrical conductivity, shearing strength, electrical resistance, density, tensile properties, and compression. He studied these effects on all manner of substances from minerals, metals, and chemicals to plastics, glass and egg yolks. Bridgman hoped his experimental results would contribute to theories of the internal structure of atoms and molecules that were gaining attention throughout the first half of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1946 for his research.
Bridgman also did work on the synthesis of diamonds from graphite using very high pressures and temperatures. Early in 1941, the General Electric Company arranged a five year agreement with Bridgman to finance his experimental research in producing diamonds. Bridgman wanted to reverse a known process in which diamonds turn to graphite at atmospheric pressure and 1500°C. His experiments were conducted in the Harvard Geophysical Laboratory. However, Bridgman was ultimately unsuccessful in the synthesis of diamonds, and his continued research was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.
Curatorial RemarksThe boxes are no longer stored in their original cardboard box. One of the boxes is labeled 1957, two are labeled 1951, and one is labeled 1928. The relationship between the samples is not known.
Primary SourcesAbbot, C.G. The Experiments of Dr. P. W. Bridgman on the Properties of Matter When Under High Pressure in Smithsonian Report for 1918. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1920. pp. 185 - 204. (Lib. 2912)
Bridgman, Percy W. Mercury resistance as a pressure gauge. Physics Research Thesis at Harvard University (in Harvard University Archives), 1910.
-------------------------- A condensed collection of thermodynamic formulas. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1925.
-------------------------- Physics of High Pressures. London: Bell, 1931.
-------------------------- "Shearing phenomena at high pressure of possible importance for geology" in Journal of Geology, Vol. 44 No. 6 (1936), pp. 653 - 669.
------------------------- Studies in Large Plastic Flow and Fracture. New York: McGraw Hill, 1952.
-------------------------- "Certain Aspects of Plastic Flow under High Stresses" in Studies in Mathematics and Mechanics Presented to Richard von Mises. New York: Academic Press Inc., 1954. pp. 227 - 231. (Lib. 5817)
-------------------------- "Effects of Pressure on Binary Alloys" and "Miscellaneous Effects of Pressure on Miscellaneous Substances" in Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. 84, No. 1 (1955).
-------------------------- "Synthetic Diamonds" in Scientific American, November 1955, pp. 42 - 46. (Lib. 340)
------------------------- Collected Experimental Papers. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1964.
Bridgman, Percy W. Mercury resistance as a pressure gauge. Physics Research Thesis at Harvard University (in Harvard University Archives), 1910.
-------------------------- A condensed collection of thermodynamic formulas. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1925.
-------------------------- Physics of High Pressures. London: Bell, 1931.
-------------------------- "Shearing phenomena at high pressure of possible importance for geology" in Journal of Geology, Vol. 44 No. 6 (1936), pp. 653 - 669.
------------------------- Studies in Large Plastic Flow and Fracture. New York: McGraw Hill, 1952.
-------------------------- "Certain Aspects of Plastic Flow under High Stresses" in Studies in Mathematics and Mechanics Presented to Richard von Mises. New York: Academic Press Inc., 1954. pp. 227 - 231. (Lib. 5817)
-------------------------- "Effects of Pressure on Binary Alloys" and "Miscellaneous Effects of Pressure on Miscellaneous Substances" in Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. 84, No. 1 (1955).
-------------------------- "Synthetic Diamonds" in Scientific American, November 1955, pp. 42 - 46. (Lib. 340)
------------------------- Collected Experimental Papers. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1964.
ProvenanceFrom Prof. Percy Bridgman, Dept. of Physics, Harvard University.
