air pump plate

Date1850-1900

Inventory Number1996-1-0347

ClassificationAir Pump Accessory

Subject

Maker American ?

Cultural Region

Dimensions23.2 × 36.8 × 36.8 cm (9 1/8 × 14 1/2 × 14 1/2 in.)

Material

DescriptionA circular base supports a larger circular plate on which would have been put a glass jar. Between the base and plate is a nozzle.

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. This one does not have a stopcock to control the flow of air coming in and going out of the jar. It had to be part of the pumping device.