The Seth Thomas clocks, acquired by the college in December of 1888, represent the pinnacle of accuracy in timekeeping within their era. The clocks have very heavy cast-iron frames and gold-plated regulators. The polished brass tubes on either side of the clocks house the weights which maintain the rhythm and accuracy of the clock regulators. The college purchased the clocks after receiving the gift of an 8-inch Clark refractor, along with a chronograph, micrometer and a transit telescope. Grinnell offered practical astronomy classes for the first time in the 1888-89 academic year. Located in Goodnow Hall and used in the Goodnow observatory , the clocks were set respectively for solar and sidereal time. This clock is set for solar time.The second image shows the Goodnow Hall clock room in the early 1900's.  The chronometer is on the table to the right. The clocks, routinely maintained by Kens Clock Repair of Brooklyn, Iowa.. still keep excellent time and are on display in the Kistle Science Library in the Noyce Science Center.

A galvanometer is a device for detecting electric current. The galvanometer pointer deflection is from electric current passing through a coil immersed in a magnetic field from permanent magnets.

These two galvanometers each have three horseshoe magnets. The coil beside each magnet should be suspended vertically between the poles of the magnets.

This lamp was used by Prof George L. Pierce while studying at Oberlin and given to the museum by Wayne and Clara Denny. Grinnell students used oil or gas lamps until the mid 1890’s.

Manufactured by Societe Genevoise Purchased from James W. Queen & Co.

Grinnell's first Geiger counter which unfortunately is broken.

Similar to a Crooke's discharge tube.

Has been at Grinell College since at least 1928.

Created by Grinnell Students in 1922.