Nick Mitchener 🏳️🌈 🔭⚛️
@crossjack.bsky.social
Retired CEO of engineering company now a physics technician in secondary education. IoP Technician award 2024. Clocks, scientific instruments , proper nerd. Ex sailor, ex mountaineer, ex fell walker, now arthritic and overweight! RSciTech MIntP He/him
I love the look of Nixie tubes but I'm not sure that at this stage in life, with failing eyesight and shaking hands, was the time to start soldering them into circuit boards. What a pain!
November 13, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I love the look of Nixie tubes but I'm not sure that at this stage in life, with failing eyesight and shaking hands, was the time to start soldering them into circuit boards. What a pain!
Just bought this rather uninspiring barometer. Well till you read the name. Nairne invented an electrostatic generator, he invented the marine barometer and his first one sailed with James Cook. He was also master to Jesse Ramsden, who invented another electrostatic generator among other things.
November 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Just bought this rather uninspiring barometer. Well till you read the name. Nairne invented an electrostatic generator, he invented the marine barometer and his first one sailed with James Cook. He was also master to Jesse Ramsden, who invented another electrostatic generator among other things.
Just bought at auction John Browning spectroscope though really a spectrometer as it has a scale to read off the wavelength that can be calibrated with that small knurled knob using a sodium reference. It also has a small prism at the objective end, to compare two spectra at the same time. 🧪
October 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Just bought at auction John Browning spectroscope though really a spectrometer as it has a scale to read off the wavelength that can be calibrated with that small knurled knob using a sodium reference. It also has a small prism at the objective end, to compare two spectra at the same time. 🧪
Another one restored and up on the wall. Around 1810 by Hanley and Moore. Wooden dial.
October 27, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Another one restored and up on the wall. Around 1810 by Hanley and Moore. Wooden dial.
I have a number of spectroscopes and particularly John Browning ones, but I have never seen this feature. A hinge between the objective and eyepiece telescopes. I think it must allow you to centre part of the spectrum.🧪
October 25, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I have a number of spectroscopes and particularly John Browning ones, but I have never seen this feature. A hinge between the objective and eyepiece telescopes. I think it must allow you to centre part of the spectrum.🧪
Put our new sign in next to the Ivy Broomrape today.🌿🧪
October 21, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Put our new sign in next to the Ivy Broomrape today.🌿🧪
This is the second time tatty has decided this wooden hide is a rival. Normally he ignores it or treats it as a love interest. 🧪🐍
October 21, 2025 at 10:44 PM
This is the second time tatty has decided this wooden hide is a rival. Normally he ignores it or treats it as a love interest. 🧪🐍
According to FB it is 4 years since we bought our first 17thC chest of drawers, now we have three. Never would have thought I would be able to afford such fabulous antiques, still doing the job they were made for.
October 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
According to FB it is 4 years since we bought our first 17thC chest of drawers, now we have three. Never would have thought I would be able to afford such fabulous antiques, still doing the job they were made for.
We are going to be brave and label our ivy broomrape. I hope the students see it as something to treasure. I got this line drawing to go with the text as it is visible all year round🌿🧪
October 13, 2025 at 11:17 AM
We are going to be brave and label our ivy broomrape. I hope the students see it as something to treasure. I got this line drawing to go with the text as it is visible all year round🌿🧪
A Beck wavelength spectrometer. This one is perhaps 1950s or 60s. The company ceased in 1968.
I have a much more substantial one by Adam Hilger from the 1920s. I also have a monochromator by Adam Hilger
I have a much more substantial one by Adam Hilger from the 1920s. I also have a monochromator by Adam Hilger
September 27, 2025 at 9:21 PM
A Beck wavelength spectrometer. This one is perhaps 1950s or 60s. The company ceased in 1968.
I have a much more substantial one by Adam Hilger from the 1920s. I also have a monochromator by Adam Hilger
I have a much more substantial one by Adam Hilger from the 1920s. I also have a monochromator by Adam Hilger
Whose poo is this? First is badger I think, what about the next one?UK dorset🧪🌿
September 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Whose poo is this? First is badger I think, what about the next one?UK dorset🧪🌿
Golden wax caps? Not been seen on this site before but definitely here now! 🧪🌿
September 23, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Golden wax caps? Not been seen on this site before but definitely here now! 🧪🌿
What looks like a hornet and flies like a fly? A hornet fly!🌿🪳🧪
September 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
What looks like a hornet and flies like a fly? A hornet fly!🌿🪳🧪
4 years now since I came out of retirement to be a tech again. I am really rubbish at retiring. In 4 years my preproom has got a lot more crowded with stuff!🧪
September 3, 2025 at 10:12 PM
4 years now since I came out of retirement to be a tech again. I am really rubbish at retiring. In 4 years my preproom has got a lot more crowded with stuff!🧪
3 hummingbird hawk-moths on our buddlia.🪳🧪🌿
August 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
3 hummingbird hawk-moths on our buddlia.🪳🧪🌿
FB just reminded me that I acquired this piece of Amber. It is multi disciplinary. Covers etymology, entomology, geology, gemology, physics, biology, chemistry and palaeontology
August 20, 2025 at 9:40 AM
FB just reminded me that I acquired this piece of Amber. It is multi disciplinary. Covers etymology, entomology, geology, gemology, physics, biology, chemistry and palaeontology
I made a coil for my magic Eye.
August 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I made a coil for my magic Eye.
I seem to have been lucky here. Having tested the resistors and found they were 1.1 megaohm I tried connecting an HT supply across the input terminals. This is at around 160V.
August 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I seem to have been lucky here. Having tested the resistors and found they were 1.1 megaohm I tried connecting an HT supply across the input terminals. This is at around 160V.
picked this up cheap on ebay, worth a punt as the valve alone is normally £50.
Heater works, now what do I put in the other terminals? Must have been set up for a school demo.
datasheet4u.com/datasheet/Mu...
Heater works, now what do I put in the other terminals? Must have been set up for a school demo.
datasheet4u.com/datasheet/Mu...
August 12, 2025 at 7:49 PM
picked this up cheap on ebay, worth a punt as the valve alone is normally £50.
Heater works, now what do I put in the other terminals? Must have been set up for a school demo.
datasheet4u.com/datasheet/Mu...
Heater works, now what do I put in the other terminals? Must have been set up for a school demo.
datasheet4u.com/datasheet/Mu...
What is this one do you think? Uk South Coast 🪳🧪
August 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM
What is this one do you think? Uk South Coast 🪳🧪
40 mourning geckos off to the pet shop to find new homes🐍🧪
August 2, 2025 at 11:21 PM
40 mourning geckos off to the pet shop to find new homes🐍🧪
OK, stumped now, definitely a hover fly but which one?🪳🌿🧪
July 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
OK, stumped now, definitely a hover fly but which one?🪳🌿🧪
Meanwhile at home we look after hoverflies and the now redundant wasps another way
July 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Meanwhile at home we look after hoverflies and the now redundant wasps another way
As our rewilding area approaches its late August cut it is all about the wild carrot. The hoverflies and others love it. Any help identifying?🌿🪳🧪
July 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
As our rewilding area approaches its late August cut it is all about the wild carrot. The hoverflies and others love it. Any help identifying?🌿🪳🧪