Leyden phial
Date1795-1830
Inventory NumberDW0022
ClassificationLeyden Jar
Subject
Maker
French
?
Dimensions26 x 10 cm (10 1/4 x 3 15/16 in.)
blue board box: 26.7 × 21.9 × 18.3 cm (10 1/2 × 8 5/8 × 7 3/16 in.)
blue board box: 26.7 × 21.9 × 18.3 cm (10 1/2 × 8 5/8 × 7 3/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA glass jar that is stuffed with thin, crumpled metal foil inside (probably tin) and with an outside covered in a thin metal foil (probably lead) that has been scraped off in places to make a brick pattern with the remaining foil, consisting of rectangular pieces of metal foil that do not touch each other. It is closed with a cork cap that has a brass rod attached to it that curves like a hook to end in a small ball. Inside the rod extends downwards to touch the metal foil. The parts of the jar above the metal foil are painted red.
The bottle is broken on one side.
The bottle is broken on one side.
Signedunsigned
FunctionLeyden jars were the earliest form of capacitor but were still common until the early twentieth century. The jar accumulates electric charge when the metal foil (in this case, pieces of foil) outside is at a voltage different to the one of the brass rod and the foil inside of the jar that is touching the rod.
This particular kind of Leyden jar, with part of its outside foil scraped off to leave disconnected, rectangular pieces of foil on the glass, serves several demonstrational purposes: it shows that even when the foil outside is fragmented, the leyden jar continues to function. Also, when the Leyden jar is charged, electric sparks can form at the sharp edges of the foils and even cross over to other foils, which presents a spectacular view.
Experiments explicitly alluding to this type of Leyden jar appear in George Adams' An Essay on Electricity (1787), p.124, fig. 46 (see Primary Sources):
"Experiment XCIII TV.fig.46, represents a bottle, whose exterior coating is formed of small pieces of tin-foil, placed at a little distance from each other. Charge this bottle in the usual manner, and strong sparks of electricity will pass from one spot of tin foil to the other, in a variety of directions; the separation of the tin-foil making the passage of the fluid from the outside to the table visible. Discharge this bottle, by bringing a pointed wire gradually near the knob, and the uncoated part of the glass between the spots will be pleasingly illuminated, and the noise will ressemble that of small fired crackers. If the jar is discharged suddendly, the whoe outside surface appears illuminated. To produce these appearances, the glass must be very dry."
This particular kind of Leyden jar, with part of its outside foil scraped off to leave disconnected, rectangular pieces of foil on the glass, serves several demonstrational purposes: it shows that even when the foil outside is fragmented, the leyden jar continues to function. Also, when the Leyden jar is charged, electric sparks can form at the sharp edges of the foils and even cross over to other foils, which presents a spectacular view.
Experiments explicitly alluding to this type of Leyden jar appear in George Adams' An Essay on Electricity (1787), p.124, fig. 46 (see Primary Sources):
"Experiment XCIII TV.fig.46, represents a bottle, whose exterior coating is formed of small pieces of tin-foil, placed at a little distance from each other. Charge this bottle in the usual manner, and strong sparks of electricity will pass from one spot of tin foil to the other, in a variety of directions; the separation of the tin-foil making the passage of the fluid from the outside to the table visible. Discharge this bottle, by bringing a pointed wire gradually near the knob, and the uncoated part of the glass between the spots will be pleasingly illuminated, and the noise will ressemble that of small fired crackers. If the jar is discharged suddendly, the whoe outside surface appears illuminated. To produce these appearances, the glass must be very dry."
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Alain Brieux, Paris, April 19, 1962 (lot 5/8).
American
Date: 1850-1900
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677b
American
Date: 1850-1900
Accessories: part of a series of four Leyden jars that comes in a box with 4 holes cut in and knob. The series includes an extra lid and a two photographs of the jar 1997-1-0677a with their negative (in Kodak safety film)
Object number: 1997-1-0677a