Spectroscope

maker, Source: "Made in Germany" distributed by Central Scientific Company, Chicago
year made, acquired: c. 1925

height: 30 cm
diameter of cylinder: 11 cm
A prism is located in the center of the cylinder

"An instrument for making a spectrum visible and locating therein the position of spectral lines and of light of the various wave lengths. The spectrum is produced usually by prism, sometimes by a diffraction grating, and a linear scale is projected so as to be seen superimposed upon it." Warren, (1934).

Students used the Spectroscope for threshold determinations. Titchener (1915) listed a set of tests for determining the extreme limits of the visible spectrum for a particular subject. He described investigations with TR (Terminal Stimulus, in this case the last detectable spectral line, or colour), and LR (Stimulus Limen, or the point at which a stimulus enters consciousness).

In the Literature:

Baird, J. W., and R. J. Richardson (1900). A case of abnormal colour sense, with special reference to the space threshold of colours, University of Toronto Studies, Psychological Series, A. Kirschmann (Ed.), Vol. 1. Toronto: Librarian of the University of Toronto.

Boring, E. G. (1942). Sensation and Perception in the History of Experimental Psychology. New York: Appleton -Century. p. 155.

Titchener, (1915) Experimental Psychology, a Manual of Laboratory Practice: Volume II. Quantitative Experiments, Part II. Instructor’s Manual. New York: MacMillan. p. 39.

Brass Instrument Psychology Home                 UTMuSI Home