Hydrometer
notes: label: Description
content: In 1851, knowing that distillers in New York desired a hydrometer that would be more reliable than that designed by Southworth, James Adams produced a silver instrument that corresponded with the glass standard kept in Washington. Adams' new hydrometer had an egg-shaped flotation ball, a weighted ballast ball, and one weight to be used with heavier liquids. The oval stem was graduated from 100 (pure alcohol) to 0 (proof) to 100 (pure water), and was correct for 60 degrees F. Adams also provided a thermometer and printed scale for temperature corrections. The distillers were satisfied. Judges at the New York Crystal Palace of 1853 granted a bronze medal and a “Special Approbation for Accuracy” to Adams & Tagliabue, Adams being the maker, and Giuseppe Tagliabue the distributor. Adams also won a diploma at the American Institute Fair of 1857. The first 153 of these hydrometers were numbered, and marked “Adams & Tagliabue.” Numbers 154 to 392 were marked simply “J. A.” Those made after 1 June 1857 were marked “James Adams.”
label: Description
content: In 1860 Adams applied for a patent on a hydrometer with a silver stem and a bulb of vulcanized india rubber, gutta percha, or any other such substance which, unlike copper or silver, was unlikely to be deformed if handled roughly. Since hydrometers made of metal or of india rubber were well known, the Patent Commissioner refused the application. The Appeals Court, finding that Adams' instrument united the advantages of the two dissimilar materials and avoided the objections of each, ordered that the patent be granted.
label: Description
content: This example, which came from the Patent Office, may be the model that Adams submitted with his patent application. The ballast ball is made of silver; the stem is graduated with two different scales, and marked “James Adams.”
label: Description
content: Ref: James Adams, <i>Description of the Standard Silver Hydrometer</i> (New York, 1857).
label: Description
content: James Adams, “Hydrometer,” U.S. Patent 31,100 (Jan. 15, 1861).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PH.89797.553
label: accession number
content: 89797
label: patent number
content: 31,100
label: catalog number
content: 89797.553
objectType: label: Object Name
content: hydrometer
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: silver (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: hard vulcanized india rubber (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 6 3/4 in x 1 1/2 in; x 17.145 cm x 3.81 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 6 5/8 in x 1 1/2 in; 16.8275 cm x 3.81 cm