air pump plate

Date1850-1900

Inventory Number1996-1-0313

ClassificationAir Pump Accessory

Subject

Maker American ?

Cultural Region

Dimensions16 × 19.5 × 19.5 cm (6 5/16 × 7 11/16 × 7 11/16 in.)

Material

DescriptionA small circular base supports a larger circular plate (covered in glass) on which would have been put a glass jar. Between the base and plate are a nozzle and a stopcock.

Signedunsigned

FunctionThis is the base on which a glass jar would have been set upon. The nozzle was linked to a hand pump (such as 1996-1-0305 or 1996-1-0306) by a rubber tube. Air could then be added or removed from the jar in order to perform a vast array of pneumatic experiments. The stopcock underneath the circular plate was used to control the flow of air coming in and going out of the jar.