Ranschburg Memory Device

maker, source: Zimmermann, Liepzig
year made, acquired: c. 1920

l x w x h; 21 x 21 x 10 cm

The Ranschburg Memory Device presents a series of visual stimuli successively, at a specified rate, to be memorized. Symbols, letters, numbers are written on the white disk, and temporarily revealed through the exposure slot. The Disk is driven in discreet steps by an internal motor.

Ranschburg invented this apparatus based on the work of Herman Ebbinghaus, the pioneer memory researcher. At Toronto, it was used primarily in the teaching laboratory.

Other related apparatus:

Jastrow’s memory apparatus Whipple, (1914)

Müllers memory kymograph, Titchener (1915)

Wirth’s memory apparatus, ibid

In the literature:

Bertini, Sylvia (1989). Instruments of the Florentine Psychology Laboratory between 1800 - 1900, see Studies in the History of Scientific Instruments: 7^th symposium.

Ranschburg, P. (1901). Monatsschr. f. Psychiatr, u. Neurol., vol. 10, p. 321.

Titchener, (1915). Instructor’s Manual, p. 412.

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