This study aims to assess the analytical potential of studying the role of historical instruments used in teaching Science, from the perspective of a collection of scientific instruments belonging to the Physics laboratory of the Bento de Abreu State School in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Taking into account that the objects in the collection can be related to the goals of teaching Physics, in Brazil, in the first half of the 20th century, based on the legislation of the time, it’ s provided a brief description of the Science curriculum in middle schools until 1961. It is argued that although the instruments present a number of difficulties in being used as a primary source of research, they play an invaluable role as objects of study, in increasing the possibilities of understanding the history of teaching and disseminating science in Brazilian schools.