184
was discharged from the US Signal Corps. In 1899 the astronomer and physicist
Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834–1906), who was the secretary of the Smithsonian,
wrote a letter to the meteorologist Father Frederick L. Odenbach (1857–1933)
(Odenbach 1900), professor of physics at St. Ignatius College in Cleveland, which
today is John Carrol University (Kenely 1901; Vregilles: 550–554; Udias 2003:
230–231) offering the meteorograph to the college under the condition that it would
be preserved there. Odenbach, who was fond of mechanics, was enthusiastic about
the proposal:
I often gazed at the illustration of this grand instrument as it may be found at the end of
Ganot’s Physics, and ached to see the original. As I child I was a great analyser of dolls,
clocks and such like complications, but never did I dream that I would one day get the
chance at so worthy and interesting an object. My answer to the Hon. Secretary, therefore,
was immediate and short: That I would be delighted to offer the venerable relic a safe and
congenial resting place. (Odenbach 1900: 29)
The instrument arrived about a week later “…in a thousand and one pieces…” and
after having spread them over the floor “…in neat soldier-like order…” Odenbach
started to assemble it. Three days later, the meteorograph was in working order, and
Father Odenbach imagined that “...the great Secchi look down from realms above in
satisfaction at the idea, that this child of his imagination had again found a home
within the Society of which he was so devoted and we may say illustrious a member.” Furthermore, he could not refrain his excitement and added, “The Meteorograph
is a musical instrument to anyone who delights in complicated scientific apparatus…” (Odenbach 1900: 29). Unfortunately, the recording psychrometer could not
be used in Cleveland, because in winter the wet bulb of the thermometer could not
be kept free from excess ice.
For several years Father Odenbach carefully looked after the apparatus. From his
description, as well as from two photographs of the instruments published at the
beginning of the twentieth century, the meteorograph of St. Ignatius College appears
to be identical to the one preserved in Rome (The catalogue of St. Ignatius College
1905: 32 and table).
We do not know when the meteorograph was disposed of, but it probably
occurred around the middle of the twentieth century. A series of inquiries showed
that it does not exist anymore, but the large clockwork mechanism which was
installed at the top of the meteorograph survives in the collection of the National
Watch and Clock Museum (catalogue number 73.1.1) (Fig. 10.5).
10.3.5 Havana (1873)
In 1854 Jesuits founded the college of Belén in Havana, Cuba (Album Commemorativo
1904; Vregille 1906: 38–55; Udías 2003: 245–248). Meteorological observations
were started there around 1857 and, a year later, became regular. The first director,
Father Antonio Cabré (1829–1883), and his successors had to struggle to assure the
publication of the observations, given the chronic lack of personnel. In 1870, Father
P. Brenni
was discharged from the US Signal Corps. In 1899 the astronomer and physicist
Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834–1906), who was the secretary of the Smithsonian,
wrote a letter to the meteorologist Father Frederick L. Odenbach (1857–1933)
(Odenbach 1900), professor of physics at St. Ignatius College in Cleveland, which
today is John Carrol University (Kenely 1901; Vregilles: 550–554; Udias 2003:
230–231) offering the meteorograph to the college under the condition that it would
be preserved there. Odenbach, who was fond of mechanics, was enthusiastic about
the proposal:
I often gazed at the illustration of this grand instrument as it may be found at the end of
Ganot’s Physics, and ached to see the original. As I child I was a great analyser of dolls,
clocks and such like complications, but never did I dream that I would one day get the
chance at so worthy and interesting an object. My answer to the Hon. Secretary, therefore,
was immediate and short: That I would be delighted to offer the venerable relic a safe and
congenial resting place. (Odenbach 1900: 29)
The instrument arrived about a week later “…in a thousand and one pieces…” and
after having spread them over the floor “…in neat soldier-like order…” Odenbach
started to assemble it. Three days later, the meteorograph was in working order, and
Father Odenbach imagined that “...the great Secchi look down from realms above in
satisfaction at the idea, that this child of his imagination had again found a home
within the Society of which he was so devoted and we may say illustrious a member.” Furthermore, he could not refrain his excitement and added, “The Meteorograph
is a musical instrument to anyone who delights in complicated scientific apparatus…” (Odenbach 1900: 29). Unfortunately, the recording psychrometer could not
be used in Cleveland, because in winter the wet bulb of the thermometer could not
be kept free from excess ice.
For several years Father Odenbach carefully looked after the apparatus. From his
description, as well as from two photographs of the instruments published at the
beginning of the twentieth century, the meteorograph of St. Ignatius College appears
to be identical to the one preserved in Rome (The catalogue of St. Ignatius College
1905: 32 and table).
We do not know when the meteorograph was disposed of, but it probably
occurred around the middle of the twentieth century. A series of inquiries showed
that it does not exist anymore, but the large clockwork mechanism which was
installed at the top of the meteorograph survives in the collection of the National
Watch and Clock Museum (catalogue number 73.1.1) (Fig. 10.5).
10.3.5 Havana (1873)
In 1854 Jesuits founded the college of Belén in Havana, Cuba (Album Commemorativo
1904; Vregille 1906: 38–55; Udías 2003: 245–248). Meteorological observations
were started there around 1857 and, a year later, became regular. The first director,
Father Antonio Cabré (1829–1883), and his successors had to struggle to assure the
publication of the observations, given the chronic lack of personnel. In 1870, Father
P. Brenni