Accession No
6246
Brief Description
Electrostatic wimshurst machine, in box and including accessories, 1/2 20th century
Origin
Maker
unknown
Class
electrical; demonstration
Earliest Date
1900
Latest Date
1950
Inscription Date
Material
wood (cork); Paper (card, paper); glass; Metal (brass, silver, other?); Plastic (ebonite); hide (leather)
Dimensions
Machine 245mm (height including base); base 215mm x 110mm x 40mm; disc 180mm (diameter)
Special Collection
Provenance
Donated by a private individual on or before 28/07/2000.
Inscription
Description Notes
Electrostatic wimshurst machine, in box and including accessories, 1/2 20th century.
Box is compartmentalised to accommodate the range of accessories. Vertical divider splits the box into two main parts, one of which has several more dividers. This divided section is then divided again by way of a lift-out tray, with more divided compartments. The tray has a ribbon to help with lifting, but this has detached from one side.
The accessories seem to have fulfilled a range of functions. The spare brush-bearing armature seems to have been purely functional. Among the accessories for demonstration there are mundane items, such as the mounted metal ball, and more amusing items, such as the strong man lifting balls and the flaming torch. The full list of accessories is as follows: flaming torch; canister accessory with metal ball mounted on armature; jar of balls; two balls hanging on wires; strong man lifting balls; leather (?) disc; hanging hook; walking stick-shaped metal rod; mounted metal ball; sphere with hook; mounted bells; mounted needle; bar to screw into another accessory with two small hooks; spare armature with brushes; spare brushes; metal rod; elongated S-shaped metal piece; ball suspended on thread; plastic rectangle with metal brackets at each end and zig-zag pattern of mounted metal discs; metal stand base (?) with missing upright.
The metal stand base (?) has a mark on the underside reading ‘E. P.’ flanked by a pair of wings with three stars sitting above.
Not complete. (Leather belt missing, possibly instruments missing).
References
Events
Description
Wimshurst generator
Otherwise known as the Wimshurst machine or Wimshurst electrostatic generator, this instrument is a device for generating a high-voltage electric charge.
The Wimshurst generator works by turning a handle, which rotates two glass or mica disks carrying metal strips, in opposite directions. The metal strips contact brushes which both induce, and then remove the charge.
The charge is then collected in capacitors similar to Leyden jars, which were the first means of storing electricity (Leyden jars are also on display, and a 'how to use' is available to explain them).
When the charge generated by the Wimshurst machine builds up to a high level, it shoots up the metal rods and sparks of up to 2 inches fire between the two metal balls. Other attachments and accessories can be added, such as bells that ring when the disks turn.
James Wimshurst invented the Wimshurst generator in the 1880s; it became the most popular electrostatic machine of the 19th century. It was later replaced by the Van De Graaf generator.
FM:46191
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