Mirror galvanometer designed by Lord Kelvin

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This mirror galvanometer is similar to the one used in 1866 when the Atlantic Telegraph Company laid marine cable across the Atlantic for the first time. It was designed by physicist Sir William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin of Largs).

A mirror galvanometer measures the electric current passing through the cable.

As chief consultant of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, the physicist Sir William Thomson was involved in the design and construction of the first successful underwater Atlantic cable. In 1866 he was knighted for his work in physics and engineering. Later, in 1892, Lord Kelvin was made 1st Baron Kelvin of Largs.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-000-099-872-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: Innovators and Innovations (multimedia essay)
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1934.159
• Date: 1866
  c. 1866
  
• Material: Galvanometer, reflecting
  
• Dimensions: 10.50" overall H x 9.50" overall L
  
• What: Galvanometer, reflecting
  
• Subject: 8. ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Installation (Departmental Classification)
  22. PHYSICS, Magnetism and Electricity (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: J. White, Glasgow (galvanometer maker)
  Lord Kelvin (Sir William Thomson) (scientist and inventor)
  
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  
• Event: Laying of the Submarine Atlantic Telegraph Cable
  
• Description: Reflecting galvanometer, mirror missing, made by J. White, Glasgow, used in laying the Atlantic Cable in 1866
  
• References:
  • Thompson, Silvanus P. The life of William Thomson, Baron Kelvin of Largs. London: Macmillan, 1910
  • Tunbridge, Paul. Lord Kelvin: his influence on electrical measurements and units. London: Peregrinus, 1992
• Translations:
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