The arrangement of the
four prisms relative to the telescope is automatically
adjusted through a series of levers for minimum
deviation at the observed frequency. For storage the
spectroscope is provided with a mahogany case.
The following excerpt is
from The Popular Science Review, H. Lawson
Ed., 1871
Browning’s Automatic Spectroscope.—The principle of this ingenious
instrument has been made the object of several rival claims, which
seem to us to bare no foundation whatever. On the one band, Herr
von Littrow claims for his son (lately deceased) the invention of
the plan, and in confirmation of the claim points to a volume of
the Proceedings of the Imperial Society of Vienna. On reference
to this volume we find an automatic spectroncope described, which
bears not the most remote resemblance to Mr. Browning’s, and
would certainly not reward the mechanician who should attempt
to remove it from the domain of pictures. On the other hand,
Professor Young, in describing an instrument he has successfully
employed himself, speaks of Mr. Rutherford as the originator
of the idea of slotted bars working over a central pin. He
mentions no date, however, nor does he give any evidence whatever
to show that Mr. Browning had had the opportunity of hearing
of Mr. Rutherford's ideas. Now Mr. Browning can prove that,
so far back as 1882, the idea of his automatic spectroscope
had not only been conceived by him, hut described to others.
As the automatic spectroscope is a most important addition to
our spectroscopic appliances, it does seem desirable that those
who advocate the claims of others to its invention should give
satisfactory evidence in support of their views. But it may be
remarked, in passing, that the mere enunciation of the idea
that slotted bars attached to the prisms would give the required
motion would by no means suffice to establish a claim as against
Mr. Browning. A modification of the plan first described by Mr.
Browning has been suggested by Mr. Proctor, and at the last
meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society Mr. Browning exhibited
a spectroscope constructed on this modified plan. It presents
certain improvements. The theoretical requirements of an automatic
spectroscope to give minimum deviation for all rays are strictly
fulfilled, and, further, the motion of the viewing-telescope is
guided by the same slot-movement which controls the motion of
the several prisms. It is proper to point out, however, that
these improvements must he regarded as essentially included
within Mr. Browning's own plan. Mr. Proctor claims no share of
the credit due to the modified instrument: and this is but simple
justice, since surely nothing can be more unfair than to step
in between an inventor and those improvements which are sure to
follow the first construction of a now instrument, and then to
claim the improved instrument as one's own.
Information about
John Browning (c.1831 - 1925)