Psycograph (phrenometer)



The Psychograph is an automated phrenological measuring device, developed by Henry C. Lavery (based on his earlier patented Lavery Electric Phrenometer, "perfected after twenty-six years of experiment") and formerly sold through his Minnesota-based Psychograph Company (1929-1937). The device operates by automatically taking measurements of several areas of the subject's head and producing a print-out record of the readings taken, specifically functioning as a "phrenometer for measuring the faculties of intelligence of the head, and hence determining the size and character of the brain contained therein," in particular "measur[ing] 32 relative areas of the brain, sort[ing], classif[ying] and indicat[ing] correctly 160 ratings of 32 different faculties, pointing out one's talents, abilities and weak and strong characteristics."