Daniell cell used by Edward Davy with spare pot, 1836-1839

Made:
1836-1839 in England
inventor:
Edward Davy
Daniell cell used by Edward Davy with spare pot, 1836-1839 Daniell cell used by Edward Davy with spare pot, 1836-1839 Daniell cell used by Edward Davy with spare pot, 1836-1839 Daniell cell used by Edward Davy with spare pot, 1836-1839

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Daniell cell with spare pot used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883. The Daniell Cell is named after John Frederic Daniell, who invented it in 1836, and is a form of electro-chemical battery. Daniell cells use copper in copper sulphate and zinc in zinc sulphate, each in a separate pot. The two are connected by a salt bridge, which allows ions to move from one pot to another, so generating an electric charge. This particular Daniell cell is believed to have been used by Edward Davy, who in 1837-8 was a rival to Cooke and Wheatstone in developing a practical electric telegraph. For personal reasons, Davy emigrated to Australia in 1838 and his experimental apparatus was stored. Sadly most of it was destroyed later but a few Daniell cells were found and rescued, of which this is one.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1923-232
Materials:
ceramic (unspecified) and glaze
Measurements:
pots (each): 460 mm x 110 mm diameter, 2.48 kg
cell: 475 mm x 220 mm diameter, 7.18 kg
type:
battery
credit:
Donated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers

Parts

Daniell cell used by Edward Davy, 1836-1839

Daniell cell used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883. The Daniell Cell is named after John Frederic Daniell, who invented it in 1836, and is a form of electro-chemical battery. Daniell cells use copper in copper sulphate and zinc in zinc sulphate, each in a separate pot. The two are connected by a salt bridge, which allows ions to move from one pot to another, so generating an electric charge. This particular Daniell cell is believed to have been used by Edward Davy, who in 1837-8 was a rival to Cooke and Wheatstone in developing a practical electric telegraph. For personal reasons Davy emigrated to Australia in 1838 and his experimental apparatus was stored. Sadly most of it was destroyed later but a few Daniell cells were found and rescued, of which this is one.

Materials:
ceramic (unspecified) and glaze
Object Number:
1923-232/1
type:
battery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pot for Daniell cell used by Edward Davy, 1836-1839

Pot for Daniell cell used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883.

More

Pot for Daniell cell used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883. The Daniell Cell is named after John Frederic Daniell, who invented it in 1836, and is a form of electro-chemical battery. Daniell cells use copper in copper sulphate and zinc in zinc sulphate, each in a separate pot. The two are connected by a salt bridge, which allows ions to move from one pot to another, so generating an electric charge. This particular Daniell cell is believed to have been used by Edward Davy, who in 1837-8 was a rival to Cooke and Wheatstone in developing a practical electric telegraph. For personal reasons Davy emigrated to Australia in 1838 and his experimental apparatus was stored. Sadly most of it was destroyed later but a few Daniell cells were found and rescued, of which this is one.

Measurements:
overall: 460 mm x 110 mm diameter, 2.48 kg
Materials:
ceramic (unspecified)
Object Number:
1923-232/2
type:
battery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
pot for Daniell cell used by Edward Davy, 1836-1839

pot for Daniell cell used by Edward Davy, 1836-1839

Pot for Daniell cell used and possibly made by Edward Davy, England, 1836-1839. Found in a field in Somerset by J J Fahie, an historian of the electric telegraph, in 1883.

Measurements:
overall: 450 mm x 110 mm diameter
Materials:
ceramic (unspecified)
Object Number:
1923-232/3
type:
battery