Mirror galvanometer designed by Lord Kelvin

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.

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Online ID:	000-000-099-872-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0088: Innovators and Innovations (multimedia essay) Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1934.159
Date:	1866 c. 1866
Material:
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 Find in NLS: Title, Author, Title+Author or British Library: Title, Author, Title+Author Tunbridge, Paul. Lord Kelvin: his influence on electrical measurements and units. London: Peregrinus, 1992 Find in NLS: Title, Author, Title+Author or British Library: Title, Author, Title+Author
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