The Hipp Chronoscope.

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The Hipp Chronoscope, 'model 88'
In 1875, Heinrich Schneebeli, a teacher of physics at Neuchâtel, published an article on
a further improved version of the Hipp chronoscope. In Ueber die Anziehungszeit und
Abreissungszeit der Elektromagnete. Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Schneebeli notes that
the chronoscope was used in numerous physical laboratories. He adds a detailed description
of the improved instrument.
Hipp had introduced changes to the escapement and the electric part of his chronoscope.
With respect to the escapement, Schneebeli writes that the simple screw to adjust the
Hipp lamella u is replaced by an additional unit for calibration. Part of this unit is a lever
with a little weight and a damper, to prevent self resonance. A more striking modification
concerned the electric unit at the back side of the chronoscope. Instead of only one, the new
Hipp chronoscope had two electromagnets. Between two pairs of coils a metal armature
was placed. The position of this armature was adjusted with the help of two levers and
springs. Initially, the chronoscope only allowed measurements in case the electric circuit was
interrupted. The new arrangement of the electromagnets made it possible to measure time
with an opened and closed circuit, thus multiplying possible laboratory set-ups. It was this
version of the Hipp chronoscope that was widely used in psychological laboratories.
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