26 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1961 



Science artd technology. — ^Two astrolabes of unusual interest were 

 acquired by tlie division of physical sciences. Through the generosity 

 of Lessing J. Rosenwald a very fine medieval English instrument 

 was received, having zoomorphic star pointers as a notable feature. 

 Although undated and unsigned, it is dated by the calendar scale about 

 1325. A second astrolabe received this year is an Hispano-Moorish 

 instrument by Muhammad ibn-Sahli. This specimen exhibits a mix- 

 ture of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish characteristics in its decoration. 



Two major refrigerating machines for exhibit in the new hall of 

 power machinery were received this year : the first commercially suc- 

 cessful centrifugal refrigeration compressor from Carrier Corpora- 

 tion, which was generously restored by the Frick Company, and a 

 typical steam-driven reciprocating ammonia compressor from Clifton 

 Springs Sanitarium and Clinic. 



About 3,000 large original tracings, on cloth, of heavy mining ma- 

 chinery for the period 1875-1902 were received from Calumet and 

 Hecla, Inc. This valuable collection representing an important part 

 of the creative work of Erasmus D. Leavitt (1836-1916), a widely 

 known and highly honored mechanical engineer, was located by Robert 

 M. Vogel, associate curator. The arcliival collections of the division 

 have grown, largely through the efforts of Mr. Vogel, to a major 

 repository of source materials in the history of mechanical and civil 

 engineering. 



Among the outstanding gifts in the section of marine transporta- 

 tion is a model of the brigantine sloop Ferret. This Admiralty model 

 is a gift of Lansdell K. Christie. The Grace Line, Inc., presented a 

 model of the passenger liner Santa Paula. In the section of land 

 transportation a colonial chaise, including funds for its restoration, 

 was received from Stewart Huston. A collection of fire-fighting ap- 

 paratus was donated by Dr. Karl B. Bretzfelder. The Baltimore & 

 Ohio Railroad Co. gave a collection of glass plate negatives and car 

 drawings, through L. W. Sagle. 



The division of electricity has been particularly fortunate in ob- 

 taining the Palmer collection of early electrical equipment from 

 Princeton University. The collection is an important one and pro- 

 vided most of the illustrations in M. Maclaren's Rise of the Electrical 

 Industry during the 19th Century. It was exceptionally rich in 

 examples of laboratory meters, telephonic apparatus, power switch- 

 gear, and incandescent lamps. Two other large groups of specimens 

 were also acquired : one from Brown University, consisting primarily 

 of motors and generators, together with some interesting wireless 

 telegraph equipment, and one from the Weston Instrument Company, 

 composed of early commercial meters. 



The acquisition of a David Rittenhouse half-size tall clock, which 

 has an astronomical type dial, enhanced the collection of timekeeping 



