November 23, 1900.] 



BGIENGE. 



779 



pansion of old observatories, the requisition 

 of greatly improved surveying and astro- 

 nomical instruments. Great progress re- 

 sulted from the introduction of the metric 

 system in the construction of exact weights 

 and delicate balances, and, in compliance 

 Virith the requirements of modern meteorol- 

 ogy, led to vast improvements in thermom- 

 etry and barometry. The development of 

 the German navy created a great demand 

 for nautical instruments. All these influ- 

 ences roused the productive powers of the 

 nation and success has not been wanting. 



Soon also the necessity was recognized of 

 the close cooperation of the scientists and 

 practical men. Accordingly, in 1879, sev- 

 eral scientists, mechanicians and opticians 

 united in Berlin and formed the nucleus of 

 the German Association of Mechanicians 

 and Opticians, which was formed in 1881 and 

 embraced the whole German Empire, hav- 

 ing for its object the scientific, technical and 

 commercial development of philosophical 

 instrument-making. The official organ of 

 this Society, the Zeitsehrift fur Instrumenten- 

 kunde, was likewise founded in 1881 and is 

 devoted to the theoretical and practical de- 

 velopment of scientific instruments. Spe- 

 cialized schools were established, first in 

 Berlin, then in Frankfort-on-the-Main and 

 subsequently in many other towns, where 

 savants and practical men are combined in 

 training the rising generation in the theoret- 

 ical departments of the subject. As a re- 

 sult of these serious scientific aims, German 

 mechanicians and opticians sought in their 

 laboratories and workshops the assistance 

 of scientists, and at the present time the 

 majority of the leading German firms retain 

 one or more experienced mathematicians or 

 physicists in their permanent service. 



The greatest share of the impetus given 

 to the manufacture of scientific instruments, 

 however, is due to the Imperial Physical 

 and Technical Institute, which was estab- 

 lished in 1887. The first, or scientific. 



department of this important institution is 

 devoted to purelj' physical research, whilst 

 the second, or technical, department deals 

 with matters concerning the construction of 

 philosophical instruments. This institution 

 has already done great service, and a large 

 proportion of recent progress is due to its 

 stimulating and helpful influence. 



Seeing how comprehensive and systematic 

 are the efforts brought to bear upon the art 

 and science of instrument construction, it 

 is not surprising that in this department 

 Germany occupies now a foremost position. 

 This fact was already apparent on the oc- 

 casion of the Universal Exhibition of 1888 

 at Brussels, even more strikingly so at the 

 World's Columbian Exhibition at Chicago 

 in 1893, and remarkable achievements were 

 shown by the combined members of the 

 German Association of Mechanicians and 

 Opticians at the Berlin Trades Exhibition 

 of 1896. 



After witnessing this steady development 

 of our mechanical and optical trade, we 

 cannot but look with confidence and grati- 

 fication upon the practical demonstration at 

 the Paris Centenary Exhibition of the flour- 

 ishing state of the scientific instrument 

 trade in Germany, and a characteristic 

 feature of the latter is the unity of its aims, 

 which is traceable to the history of its de- 

 velopment and its intimate connection with 

 pure science. It appeared, therefore, de- 

 sirable to depart from the usual custom of 

 grouping the exhibits under various firms, 

 and rather to place them in sections em- 

 bracing certain classes of instruments, so as 

 to demonstrate on broad lines and as a 

 whole, within a well-arranged though con- 

 densed area, the present position of German 

 mechanical and optical art. 



The Joint Exhibition of German Mech- 

 anicians and Opticians is, accordingly, sub- 

 divided into the following sections : 



I. Metrological and Standardizing Instruments. 

 II. Astronomical Instruments. 



