Description:

Albert A. Michelson
[Chicago, IL], November 26, 1901
Albert Michelson 1901 ALS: "I am having some fun with my ruling engine"
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by American physicist Albert A. Michelson (1852-1931), future 1907 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, as "A.A. Michelson" at lower right. November 26, 1901. [Chicago, Illinois.] Inscribed on laid watermarked stationery with "The University of Chicago / Ryerson Physical Laboratory" letterhead. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds. The upper edge of the page including the letterhead has been neatly bisected, with the cut affecting just one manuscript letter of the date. The same edge has been reattached with adhesive tape verso, and the extreme left side has been reinforced verso. Else very good to near fine. 8" x 10."

Albert Michelson was a Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago when he wrote this cordial letter to Dr. Felix Lengfeld (1863-1938), an Assistant Professor of Inorganic Chemistry also at the University. Both Michelson and Lengfeld had started their tenure at the University of Chicago around the same time, in 1892, but unlike Michelson, Lengfeld had just announced his planned departure from the University faculty.

Michelson wrote in full:

"Nov 26 1901

My dear Dr. Lengfeld

I return with many thanks the volume you lent me.

It was quite a surprise to me to hear that you have left us - tho I don't doubt you are to be congratulated.

It must feel good to be quite one's own master.

I am having some fun with my ruling engine - and if things continue to move favorably I hope to have a 12 inch grating within a few months.

Sincerely yours

A.A. Michelson."

In this letter, Michelson mentions his ongoing research in the field of optics, writing with the expectant glee of a young child. Michelson's experiments were being conducted in the Ryerson Physical Laboratory on the University of Chicago campus, a state-of-the-art research facility - as well as the Department of Physics - opened in 1894.

Michelson's "ruling engine" almost certainly referred to an early prototype of the Michelson Engine, the design of which was perfected by him at the University of Chicago the following decade, in the 1910s. The ruling engine was an apparatus which produced ruled diffraction gratings, or grooves, via a diamond-tipped tool, on thin metal sheets applied to various flat, angled, or contoured surfaces. All importantly, Michelson's ruling machine was mechanically controlled; even though each parallel and equidistant groove had to be made individually, the groove frequencies (spaces in between) could be mechanically calibrated for accuracy and consistency. Michelson used the interferometer system of light beam-splitting and distance-measuring first deployed in his famous 1897 Michelson-Morley experiment in the diffraction grating process. The ruling engine had tremendous potential for applications in the field of astronomy, with its sophisticated lenses, and in fact, Michelson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907 for his work on optics.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

November 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000