Professor Robert Thornton Demonstrating Electronic Equipment to Students, San Francisco State College (Updated last month)

Information

• Identifier: TP-ATA-1858
• Context: <p data-start="628" data-end="963">Robert Thornton was a physicist and educator at San Francisco State College and became the university&rsquo;s first Black dean of science. Known for his contributions to science education, he maintained a correspondence with Albert Einstein. Photographs such as this document his role in teaching and guiding students in laboratory settings.&nbsp;<a href="https://news.sfsu.edu/news/physicist-robert-thorntons-influence-lives-thornton-hall">SF State's first Black dean of science, a physicist, educator and pen pals with Albert Einstein</a>.</p> <p>Devices in the image:</p> <p data-start="140" data-end="293">The main device on the table appears to be a <strong data-start="185" data-end="226">vintage electronic testing instrument</strong>, likely from the <strong data-start="244" data-end="268">1950s or early 1960s</strong>. Based on the layout of:</p> <ul data-start="294" data-end="400"> <li data-start="294" data-end="323"> <p data-start="296" data-end="323">Multiple large rotary knobs</p> </li> <li data-start="324" data-end="349"> <p data-start="326" data-end="349">Rows of toggle switches</p> </li> <li data-start="350" data-end="369"> <p data-start="352" data-end="369">Banana plug jacks</p> </li> <li data-start="370" data-end="400"> <p data-start="372" data-end="400">Carrying handles on the case</p> </li> </ul> <p data-start="402" data-end="531">This is very likely a <strong data-start="424" data-end="450">Wheatstone bridge unit</strong> or a <strong data-start="456" data-end="511">precision resistance/capacitance measurement device</strong>, possibly used for:</p> <ul data-start="532" data-end="644"> <li data-start="532" data-end="560"> <p data-start="534" data-end="560"><strong data-start="534" data-end="560">Calibrating components</strong></p> </li> <li data-start="561" data-end="590"> <p data-start="563" data-end="590"><strong data-start="563" data-end="590">Teaching circuit theory</strong></p> </li> <li data-start="591" data-end="644"> <p data-start="593" data-end="644"><strong data-start="593" data-end="644">Demonstrating impedance or resistance balancing</strong></p> </li> </ul> <p data-start="646" data-end="842">These instruments were common in <strong data-start="679" data-end="717">electrical engineering departments</strong> for measuring extremely precise changes in resistance, often related to strain gauges, thermistors, or analog signal inputs.</p> <p data-start="646" data-end="842">The wall behind them is&nbsp;a <strong data-start="893" data-end="908">patch panel</strong> or <strong data-start="912" data-end="930">control matrix</strong>, used for re-routing electrical signals.</p> <p data-start="646" data-end="842">&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Credits:</strong>&nbsp;Robert Thornton's bio was provided by Meredith Eliassen and some technical descriptions and historical interpretations were developed with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI.</p>
• Geographic Coverage: San Francisco, CA
• Type: Still Image
• Format: Negative
• Source: San Francisco State University Archives
• Rights: Public