This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Electric tonic amusement machine c.1920. Detail view. Black background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Electric tonic amusement machine c.1920. Front three quarter view. Dark grey background
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Electric tonic amusement machine c.1920
For one old British penny (1d), this amusement machine at a fairground gave out a harmless electric shock. At the top the inscription reads “Electric tonic – keep fit use often”. Electrotherapy or the use of electric shocks was a popular treatment for aches and pains in the body, especially those caused by the nerves – although many of the techniques involved were little more than quackery.
On display
Science Museum: Making the Modern World Gallery
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Details
- Category:
- Therapeutics
- Object Number:
- 1985-110
- Materials:
- chrome plating, copper alloy, glass, iron, paper, plastic, red paint, textile, unidentified metal, wood
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- recreational artefact
- credit:
- Sotheby's (Chester)
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
Download 
manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
