Leyden jar
Date1850-1900
Inventory Number1997-1-0665
ClassificationLeyden Jar
Subject
Maker
American
?
Cultural Region
Dimensions59 x 24.3 cm (23 1/4 x 9 9/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA large glass jar covered almost entirely on its outer and inner surface by thin metal foil (probably lead). Its wide mouth has a wooden cap through which goes a metal rod that on the inside is attached to a copper strip in a coil. The cap is sealed to the glass with red wax.
The metal foil on the outside of the jar is peeling and coming off.
The metal foil on the outside of the jar is peeling and coming off.
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 outside is at a voltage different to the one of the metal rod and the foil inside of the jar which would be connected to it with the copper strip.
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
L. E. Knott Apparatus Company
Date: 1900-1930
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: 1997-1-0677c
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
Ziegler Electric Company
Date: 1890-1930
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: 1997-1-0677d
L. E. Knott Apparatus Company
Date: 1900-1930
Object number: 1997-1-1405
