A wooden cube with two brass and turned wooden handles projecting diagonally backwards from the sides, and a small brass plate projecting backward from the top. The plate rests on a stand with a point. The cube balances perfectly upright.

Title

A wooden cube with two brass and turned wooden handles projecting diagonally backwards from the sides, and a small brass plate projecting backward from the top. The plate rests on a stand with a point. The cube balances perfectly upright.

Identifier

ABDNP:200206a

Description

Wooden cube with wooden angled handles and short brass balancing arms, and stand for cube with balancing point. Circular brass disc stamped ' Univ. Abdn. Nat. Phil.'. Similar to item in 1790 catalogue of Thomas Jones(?).
Visitors' Centre caption "Late eighteenth-century mechanical demonstration from Professor Copland's cabinet, showing a cube with handles balancing beyond its edge with support under the centre of gravity of the whole shape".

Date

1790-1810

Format

wood, brass
cube side 60 mm; stand height 185 mm; handle length 170 mm; width 35 mm

Creator

Patrick Copland

Type

Physical Object

UUID

e2c759e6-fdc1-4ef3-a002-949f31ddc211