Skip to main content
Advanced Search
discharge globe
discharge globe

discharge globe

Datecirca 1815
Inventory Number0027
ClassificationDischarge Globe
Subject
    Attributed to W. & S. Jones fl. 1791 - 1859
    Cultural Region
      Place of Origin
        Dimensions70 cm (27 9/16 in.)
        globe diam.: 30.3 cm (11 15/16 in.)
        base diam.: 30.1 cm (11 7/8 in.)
        Material
          Bibliography
          DescriptionThe whole apparatus (glass globe, brass valve and electrodes) can be unscrewed from the rounded wooden base and put on a vacuum pump to remove air or any other gas pumped inside the glass globe. The upper electrode moves up and down to create the electric spark that illuminates the globe. The distance between the two electrodes depends on the electric charge given to the apparatus.
          In Collection(s)
          Signedunsigned
          Curatorial RemarksProbably used by John Gorham, Erving Professor of Chemistry and Material Medica at Harvard University from 1816 to 1827.
          FunctionThe intensity of light created by an electric spark varies depending upon the medium through which it travels. Inside a discharge globe different atmospheric conditions can be produced for light intensity experiments by reducing or increasing air pressure or by substituting other gases for air.
          ProvenanceMallinckrodt Chemical Laboratory, Harvard University; transferred to CHSI May 1948.
          electric discharge globe
          electric discharge globe
          English
          Date: circa 1790
          Object number: DW0610
          2.5-inch terrestrial globe
          2.5-inch terrestrial globe
          P. S. M.
          Date: circa 1845
          Object number: 7403
          The first image in this series represents a giant, double-plate electrostatic generator, which …
          collection of 51 watercolors of scientific instruments
          John Cuthbertson
          Date: 1770-1815
          Accessories: brown storage box, descriptive tag, thin strip of paper in box with the inscription "lucernal microscope" in David P. Wheatland's handwriting (which refers to figs. 47-48 and 51 in this series), page from the book "Old Science and Medicine" with a photographic copy of the first print from this series, entitled "The Large Electric Machine at Haarlem."
          Object number: 1998-1-1087
          discharge globe
          discharge globe
          American
          Date: 1820-1870
          Object number: 1997-1-0676
          W. & S. Jones improved microscope (CHSI 1041) is missing its body tube. It is here photographe…
          W. & S. Jones Improved compound and simple microscope
          W. & S. Jones
          Date: circa 1795
          Accessories: rotating disc with 6 objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; objectives with Lieberkuhn reflectors (2); Lieberkuhn attachment; conical diaphragm, stage forceps with calipers; fish plate; silk ribbon; tweezers; Bonanni spring stage; prepared ivory slides (7), standing case.
          Object number: 1041
          12-inch celestial globe
          12-inch celestial globe
          Josiah Loring
          Date: 1833
          Object number: 1997-1-1824
          10-inch celestial globe
          10-inch celestial globe
          C. Smith & Son
          Date: 1825-1850
          Object number: 1994-1-0011
          10-inch celestial globe
          10-inch celestial globe
          C. Smith & Son
          Date: 1825-1850
          Object number: 1997-1-1821
          6-inch lunar globe
          6-inch lunar globe
          Replogle Globes Inc.
          Date: 1966
          Object number: 1998-1-1621
          beam compass, extra beam
          beam compass, extra beam
          W. & S. Jones
          Date: circa 1799
          Accessories: original curatorial cards (in instrument file); typed draft of curatorial card on white paper from January 1967 (in instrument file); two black and white photos (in instrument file)
          Object number: 0066b
          polarimeter
          polarimeter
          W. & S. Jones
          Date: 1810-1830
          Object number: 0088
          28-inch terrestrial globe
          28-inch terrestrial globe
          Benjamin Martin
          Date: 1757
          Accessories: surviving leg of original stand (0071c)
          Object number: 0071b