Helium liquefier, G.J. Flim, Leiden, 1908
From the Physics Laboratory of the University of Leiden, Inv V09687

The Leiden physics laboratory was to be the first laboratory in the world to liquefy helium. A specially built apparatus was connected to the laboratory's enormous cooling installations, with a small tube underneath for catching the liquid helium. In this even a small amount of liquid would be visible. On 10 July 1908 at around noon the excitement mounted. The story goes that the professor allowed himself no time for lunch, and that his wife dropped by to force bread into his mouth. Everything seemed to be proceeding favourably: a temperature of 5 Kelvin was achieved, a new record. But the temperature refused to fall any further. You would almost say that the thermometer was standing in a boiling liquid, but it was nowhere to be seen. Finally it was a curious passer-by who actually saw the surface of the liquid. But not in the narrow tube, it was much higher!