Accession No

2338

Brief Description

Wimshurst electrostatic generator, with polyethene plates, leyden jars and insulating bar, by Griffin and Tatlock Ltd., English or Scottish, mid-20th Century

Origin

England or Scotland

Maker

Griffin and Tatlock Ltd.

Class

electrical; demonstration

Earliest Date

1940

Latest Date

1960

Inscription Date

Material

wood; metal; brass; steel; plastic; polyethene; glass; leather

Dimensions

length 400mm; breadth 210mm; height 465mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Sotherby's Belgravia, London, England; lot 224, 21/12/1977.

Inscription

GRIFFIN & TATLOCK Ltd.
LONDON GLASGOW
EDINBURGH MANCHESTER
BIRMINGHAM: Standley Belcher & Mason Ltd,
MADE IN GREAT BRITTAIN (on metal label on perspex bar)

Description Notes

Wimshurst electrostatic generator, by Griffin and Tatlock Ltd, with polyethene plates, leyden jars and insulating bar, mid-20th Century.

On polished wood base with vertical painted steel stand supporting rubber axlefor two polyethene (“alkathene”) discs 305 mm diameter, set close together, with pear shaped brass foil sectors around the outer faces of each. Metal crank with wood turning handle rotates two metal pulley wheels, turning the discs in opposite directions via two leather drive babds. Foil petals move over with and cotton brusher at either end or two diametrical pivoted arms, one for each disc. U shaped collectors with 4 further brushes; each collector connected via a brass chain and metal tag to a glass leyden jar, and via its metal mount to a pivoted discharger of an adjustable spark gap, the arms having spherical terminals at one end and plastic handles at the other. The dischargers are at either end of a polyethene insulating bar.

Condition good; complete

References

Events