[Illustration:  Complete Ammeter and Details]

of this instrument is the same as that of a galvanometer, except that its working position is not confined to the magnetic meridian.  This is accomplished by making the needle revolve in a vertical instead of a horizontal plane.  The only adjustment necessary is that of leveling, which is accomplished by turning the thumbscrew shown at A, Fig. 1, until the hand points to zero on the scale.

First make a support, Fig. 2, by bending a piece of sheet brass to the shape indicated and tapping for the screws cc.  These should have hollow ends, as shown, for the purpose of receiving the pivoted axle which supports the hand.  The core, Fig. 3, is made of iron.  It is 1 in. long, 1/4 in. wide and 1/8 in. thick.  At a point a little above the center, drill a hole as shown at H, and through this hole drive a piece of knitting-needle about 1/2 in. long, or long enough to reach between the two screws shown in Fig. 2.  The ends of this small axle should be ground pointed and should turn easily in the cavities, as the sensitiveness of the instrument depends on the ease with which this axle turns.

After assembling the core as shown in Fig. 4, it should be filed a little at one end until it assumes the position indicated.  The pointer or hand, Fig. 5, is made of wire, aluminum being preferable for this purpose, although copper or steel will do.  Make the wire 4-1/2 in. long and make a loop, D, 1/2 in. from the lower end.  Solder to the short end a piece of brass, E, of such weight that it will exactly balance the weight of the hand.  This is slipped on the pivot, and the whole thing is again placed in position in the support.  If the pointer is correctly balanced it should take the position shown in Fig. 1, but if it is not exactly right a little filing will bring it near enough so that it may be corrected by the adjusting-screw.

Next make a brass frame as shown in Fig. 6.  This may be made of wood, although brass is better, as the eddy currents set up in a conductor surrounding a magnet tend to stop oscillation of the magnet. (The core is magnetized when a current flows through the instrument.) The brass frame is wound with magnet wire, the size depending on the number of amperes to be measured.  Mine is wound with two layers of No. 14 wire, 10 turns to each layer, and is about right for ordinary experimental purposes.  The ends of the wire are fastened to the binding posts B and C, Fig. 1.

A wooden box, D, is then made and provided with a glass front.  A piece of paper is pasted on a piece of wood, which is then fastened in the box in such a position that the hand or pointer will lie close to the paper scale.  The box is 5-1/2 in. high, 4 in. wide and 1-3/4 in. deep, inside measurements.  After everything is assembled put a drop of solder on the loop at D, Fig. 5, to prevent it turning on the axle.