Search Results | Caltech Archives

Title: Planimeter
Format: photograph: print
Description: Keuffel & Esser planimeter for determining areas and volumes for excavation or fill. Labeled “Planimenter No. 1, Dept. of Civil Engineering (Room 213 Thomas Lab.)”

Title: HIR (Mk135) fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Description: Model 2, slightly modified over original and Model 1. 5.511″ long. Brass, steel, phosphor-bronze diaphragm. HIR (“hydrostatic-arming, impact-firing rocket”) fuzes were for shipboard rockets (7.2″ rocket, Mk1, 2, 4) and for aircraft rockets for retro-bombing (rockets fired rearward from low-flying aircraft) (7.2″ rocket, Mk3, 5). They originated at Caltech and were placed in limited production. 25,000 were produced then abandoned in favor of the smaller MK140. Cutaway model.

Title: PIR-21 (Mk165) fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1945
Description: This was a modification of PIR-2 with elements of PIR-19. Distinguishing feature is that the fuze head and rocket motor adapter are made in one piece. About 0.33″ longer than PIR-2 fuzes, apparent in extension of magazine. During March-June 1945 about 50,000 were manufactured and loaded by Caltech.

Title: Proportional dividers
Format: photograph: print
Description: A Lietz Company rack and pinion calibrated proportional dividers. Housed in mahogany box.

Title: Bridge, wheatstone
Format: photograph: negative
Description: In wooden box with brass handle and key. Mfg: Western Electric Co., Chicago, IL.

Title: DDR-2 or DDR-4 fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Description: DDR (“deceleration-discriminating rocket”) Base Fuzes. These fuzes were developed for use in aircraft rockets that have an underwater trajectory. Deceleration is caused by water drag. Detonation occurs at a certain point in the deceleration. These fuzes replaced the AIR-9, -10, and -11. Early model.

Title: Oxygen analyzer, Model C
Format: photograph: negative
Description: Serial no. 556. Bears original tag with model no., serial no. and inspection date of 8-23-54. Gray metal streamline moderne case; long indicator gauge readable. Mfg. Arnold O. Beckman, Inc.

Title: Mk100, Model 0 fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Description: For GPSR 3.5″/4 and GPSR 5.0″/10. Approx. 4.125″ long. Bakelite ogive, brass, steel, other materials. This is an adaptation of the T-28 fuze, the original selective-delay nose fuze, which iteslf was a modification of other fuzes. The Model 0 has a 0.05-second delay. Developed ca 1944-1945. Cutaway version.

Title: Filmo projector bulb
Format: photograph: negative
Description: Patent number 1,675,554. Nothing more is known about this item. Mfg. Bell and Howell Co.

Title: Ion chamber used by Millikan
Format: photograph: negative
Description: See Phys. Rev. 31:921(1928). This instrument is not quite the same as that descirbed in this reference, but nearly so. In 1991 Dr. Victor Neher dated this piece in the 1930s. Said it was used on shipboard and on flights by National Geographic and Army Air Corps out of SD, went up to 60,000 ft. A similar instrument was made for Nishina and was used to measure radiation in Hiroshima after the A-bomb blast. The spherical part is the electroscope; the other components are a film chamber (for 100″ of movie film), a clockwork, and a barometer. Mfg. CIT Physics Shop.

Title: Radar switch tube
Format: photograph: negative
Description: Russian copy of Western Electric Mark II 5D21, anti-submarine radar switch tube by H. E. Mendenhall (CIT 1927), J. Westsan and C.H. Elmendorf (CIT 1936). Found on Oregon beach ca. 1948.

Title: Cathode ray tube, German
Format: photograph: negative
Description: German-made. Recovered by Col. A.H. Warner (CIT 1927) near Regensburg, Germany. Mfg. R&M Eigentum.

Title: Voltmeter, electrostatic ayrton mather
Format: photograph: negative
Description: Model or serial no. L-4310. In wooden case. Mfg: Cambridge and Paul Instrument Co.

Title: Ion chamber, spare
Format: photograph: negative
Description: According to Victor Neher, was used in Mariners II and IV in 1962 and 1964. Inscribed by Neher: “the last chamber.”

Title: PIR-2 (Mk157) fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Description: For 5.0″ aircraft rocket (Model 0) and for 11.75 aircraft rocket (Model 1 and 2). Dimensions same as PIR-1. PIR-2 is a modification of PIR-1 by replacement of instantaneous detonator with delay detonator (0.02 second delay). This one appears to be a Model 0. Development was begun in Feb. 1944. 6,000 Model 0’s were manufactured by Caltech in April and May 1944, for tests by the navy. After standardization 96,000 Mk146 Model 1 fuzes of Buord were converted by Caltech to Mk157, Model 0 fuzes. This occurred in the period Oct. 1944-March 1945.

Title: AIR-6 fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Date: 1944
Description: For fast-burning, short-range 4.5″ barrage rocket. 4.2″ long. Steel and brass, with Bakelite propeller. Since the fast-burning, short-range 4.5″ barrage rocket was not standardized, this fuze was not standardized for production. 1,200 were manufactured by Caltech and delvered to Army Ordnance in June, 1944, for tests in a demolition rocket.

Title: AIR-5 fuze
Format: photograph: negative
Description: For 7.2″ chemical rocket CIT Model 15 (primarily) and for 5.0″ aircraft rocket (secondarily). About 2.3″ (without burster tube). Steel and brass. There are two models. The original model has a fixed propeller guard; Model 1 has a removable cap (shipping guard) over the propeller. 2,500 of each type were manufactured by Caltech for the Army Chemical Warfare Service for tests. Model 1 was adopted for standardization. “A”: original; “B”: cutaway.