The Physics Cabinet of the University of Naples instituted in 1811 by Joachim Murat had a rather exiguous initial equipment: it essentially consisted of prisms, mirrors, optical illusion, and a few Camera Lucida built by Gaetano de Conciliis, first director of the Cabinet. Later on it was enriched with instruments and machines belonging to the Nunziatella Military College and some from private collections. Some new tools were acquired for the 7th Congress of Scientists held in Naples in 1845. In 1878, under the direction of Gilberto Govi, the Cabinet became a research laboratory equipped with some high-precision instruments such as the cathetometer, the dividing machine, the Deleuil scale and new electrical apparatus. Also the following directors were dedicated to the growth and the renewal of the collection so that by the beginning of the 20th century the Physics Cabinet counted about 1300 instruments.
Only half of this heritage has survived and is currently hosted in the Physics Museum.
Photo: Scales by Deleuil, Parigi, 1882.