Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Busselton Historical Society > Records

Bee Meter - Watkins

« Prev Item Next Item »

Subcollections

Overview

round metal object with a glass face and numbers - looks similar to the shape of a pocket watch

Historical information

The Watkins Bee Meter was named for Alfred Watkins' interest in beekeeping, which was reflected in the design and functionality of the meter.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2020.67

Item type

Themes

Popular Culture

Material

Width

40 mm

Depth

10 mm

Weight

37 g

Inscriptions and markings

"Watkins Bee Meter"

Contextual information

Alfred Watkins, born in Hereford, invented the Bee Meter, which was patented in April 1890. This was the first light meter to measure the relative intensity of light through Watkins' invention of the actinometer and it allowed a numerical value to be assigned to light. The Bee Meter was a pocket calculator for determining exposure, so-called because it was small and highly efficient. It was manufactured in Friars Street, Hereford, in a building known as The Meter Works.

Reference: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/J7gYX-1oR_-6ret4S32tVA

Keywords

Watkins Bee Meter

Place made

England, United Kingdom

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Last modified

Wednesday, 11 February, 2026

Completeness

88

Related Objects

Related Objects

Parent records

Camera Collection

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Other items from Busselton Historical Society

camera

Media reuse | View full size | Item feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...