What the hell IS this thing?!?!

[Nathan Potter]

This is what I would call a goniometer - a tilting stage on which are mounted samples for x-ray diffraction so that the sample can be tilted at varying angles to the x-ray source. But falthy j seems to have the answer.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Terence McDonagh]

Really, though, I love stuff like this. I'm a disaster at garage sales. If I weren't married, my pad would definitely be some kinda throwback to the Victorian era....zebra carpet, vases full of peacock feathers, mounted bugs on the walls, victrola, odd instruments, etc. It would be awesome!

--A

Aside from the zebra carpet and ostrich feathers, you've described my collection. being an engineer with some disposable income can eb a dangerous thing. The camera collection is well over 75 in number. The collection of other mechanical "stuff" (it's "stuff" when it's yours and "sh!+" when someone else's) is sometimes overwhelming.

There's all sorts of fun stuff out there. Check out Curta mechanical calculators and their fascinating history ( http://www.diycalculator.com/sp-mechcool.shtml#A4 ). Old surveying equipment. Somewhere I have a small, precision (for the time), hand-powered gear-cutting machine for watch gears. Patent models. The list goes on and on.

[Brian Ellis]

Ahhmnn...

for those wanting a simple description and answer here it is:

"The Universal Stage is one of the oldest and most useful accessories in the armamentarium of the polarized-light microscopist.

It is conventionally used to examine thin sections of rocks, minerals, slags, ceramics, and concrete, or grain mounts of minerals and other single phase or concentrates in solid or liquid mount; even single large crystals and gemstones can be examined.


The particle microscopist normally mounts an unknown in a liquid or thermoplastic medium that allows for the changing of the sample’s orientation by applying pressure to the edge of a round coverglass, so as to maneuver the particle into the most favorable position for measuring crystal angles, observing interference figures, etc.

However, when one is looking at a thin section of rock, the minerals comprising the rock are at various, fixed orientations, and not much can be done about it when using a flat stage.

The universal stage is designed to both rotate 360° and to tilt such a thin section 40°-50° through any of several axes. One of the first polarizing microscopes was built by Amici in 1844, and this microscope had a built-in E/W tilting axis incorporated outside of its inner, concentric movement.

The biggest problem observed when using this instrument was due to refraction of the light at high angles of tilt, but by 1875 Adams solved that problem by adding small concentric hemispheres above and below the crystal.

By the end of the century (1889-1896) Fedorov had designed the prototype of what would be the modern attachment universal stage.

In the next two decades, Max Berek designed an attachable universal stage for Leitz that incorporated a number of improvements, and is the instrument that is in use today.

Over time, 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis universal stages appeared, although the 4-axis version is the one most commonly used.

In addition to the early universal stage made by Fuess, and others, modern versions have been made by Leitz, Zeiss (Oberkochen), Jena (Zeiss Jena), Bausch & Lomb, Cooke, Nikon, the Russian-made LOMO, and copies of the Leitz made in China.

Although no longer made by the major manufacturers, several Leitz and Chinese-made versions have been available on eBay® in the last year."

I knew that.

[BrianShaw]

This is what I would call a goniometer - a tilting stage on which are mounted samples for x-ray diffraction so that the sample can be tilted at varying angles to the x-ray source. But falthy j seems to have the answer.

I thought a goniometer was a tool for measuring body parts (I once did an anthropometric study years ago and that what we called our measuring tools). Maybe my memory is no good.

[Fred L]

v1.01 prototype Stargate

[aduncanson]

I thought a goniometer was a tool for measuring body parts (I once did an anthropometric study years ago and that what we called our measuring tools). Maybe my memory is no good.

I was taught that a goniometer was a tool for measuring angles; whether angles found on or between body parts, those that a body part might move through, or those between planes or optical axes of a crystal.

[Mark Sawyer]

I love cool, intriguing gadgets. But what the hell IS that thing? Seriously cool whatever it may be!

I know what it is... it's my new desktop background!

[BrianShaw]

I was taught that a goniometer was a tool for measuring angles; whether angles found on or between body parts, those that a body part might move through, or those between planes or optical axes of a crystal.

You are right... the memory is all starting to come back. Our subjects were seated in a truck cab mock-up. Arms, legs, etc angles. The tool for measuring straight parts of a body is a, um, ruler... or scale. That anthropometry work is a twenty-two year old memory for me!

[alec4444]

You've found this shop in NYC haven't you?

http://theevolutionstore.com/

Oh I love it! Been in there several times. I was a little upset, though when I found that the stuffed armadillo (2nd floor, to your right) was $2000. That's my 11x14 Wisner!

--A

[Michael Graves]

Ahhmnn...

for those wanting a simple description and answer here it is:

"The Universal Stage is one of the oldest and most useful accessories in the armamentarium of the polarized-light microscopist.

It is conventionally used to examine thin sections of rocks, minerals, slags, ceramics, and concrete, or grain mounts of minerals and other single phase or concentrates in solid or liquid mount; even single large crystals and gemstones can be examined.


The particle microscopist normally mounts an unknown in a liquid or thermoplastic medium that allows for the changing of the sample’s orientation by applying pressure to the edge of a round coverglass, so as to maneuver the particle into the most favorable position for measuring crystal angles, observing interference figures, etc.

However, when one is looking at a thin section of rock, the minerals comprising the rock are at various, fixed orientations, and not much can be done about it when using a flat stage.

The universal stage is designed to both rotate 360° and to tilt such a thin section 40°-50° through any of several axes. One of the first polarizing microscopes was built by Amici in 1844, and this microscope had a built-in E/W tilting axis incorporated outside of its inner, concentric movement.

The biggest problem observed when using this instrument was due to refraction of the light at high angles of tilt, but by 1875 Adams solved that problem by adding small concentric hemispheres above and below the crystal.

By the end of the century (1889-1896) Fedorov had designed the prototype of what would be the modern attachment universal stage.

In the next two decades, Max Berek designed an attachable universal stage for Leitz that incorporated a number of improvements, and is the instrument that is in use today.

Over time, 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis universal stages appeared, although the 4-axis version is the one most commonly used.

In addition to the early universal stage made by Fuess, and others, modern versions have been made by Leitz, Zeiss (Oberkochen), Jena (Zeiss Jena), Bausch & Lomb, Cooke, Nikon, the Russian-made LOMO, and copies of the Leitz made in China.

Although no longer made by the major manufacturers, several Leitz and Chinese-made versions have been available on eBay® in the last year."

Oh, cut the crap. Everyone knows a door to an alternate dimension when they see it.