thunder house
Date1789
Inventory Number0019
ClassificationThunder House
Subject
Maker
the Reverend John Prince
1751 - 1836
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions26.7 x 15.8 x 26.4 cm (10 1/2 x 6 1/4 x 10 3/8 in.)
Material
Bibliography
DescriptionThe mahogany house is shaped as a church with a small steeple. The sides of the building are hinged to the base. The roof and gables lift off. The roof line is chipped at the rear.
A brass wire conductor ascends up the front of the house through the steeple to a lightning rod terminated by a point. There is a removable brass ball on the point. The other end of the conductor ends in a loop, used to attach a chain to take the conductor to the ground. The path of the wire conductor is interrupted by a removable block of wood that contained the continuation of the rod. The block is now missing.
The interior of the base has a tin strip (approximately 4.2 x 13 cm) glued down. So does the front wall. The strip links to the exterior conductor by means of nail heads, and is used as a platform for gun powder.
A paper oval label on the front wall reads, "6-6-5." There are blank-stamped numerals "6 1" on the roof. Rectilinear stickers are glued to the underside, and read "F & J 1003" and "F & J A1003."
A brass wire conductor ascends up the front of the house through the steeple to a lightning rod terminated by a point. There is a removable brass ball on the point. The other end of the conductor ends in a loop, used to attach a chain to take the conductor to the ground. The path of the wire conductor is interrupted by a removable block of wood that contained the continuation of the rod. The block is now missing.
The interior of the base has a tin strip (approximately 4.2 x 13 cm) glued down. So does the front wall. The strip links to the exterior conductor by means of nail heads, and is used as a platform for gun powder.
A paper oval label on the front wall reads, "6-6-5." There are blank-stamped numerals "6 1" on the roof. Rectilinear stickers are glued to the underside, and read "F & J 1003" and "F & J A1003."
In Collection(s)
Signedunsigned
FunctionThe thunder house was a demonstration device to show the effectiveness of lightning rods in preserving buildings from lightning strikes.
A video demonstration of a thunder house by the Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica in Florence is available on Youtube here.
A video demonstration of a thunder house by the Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica in Florence is available on Youtube here.
ProvenanceHarvard purchased from John Prince, 1789; ...; Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University; transferred to CHSI April 1948.
Historical AttributesSold by John Prince to Harvard in 1789 for 9 shillings.
George Adams (I)
Date: circa 1765
Accessories: brass ball and fitting on top of the lightning conductor
Object number: 0017
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Object number: RS0294
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0528
the Reverend John Prince
Date: ca. 1796
Accessories: box of lenses and slides (0044b)
Object number: 0044a
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0470
See also/See also
