Drawing of Apparatus of Torricelli, 1643 and von Guericke 1654

Drawing of vacuum apparatus of Torricelli, 1643, and von Guericke, 1654. In the mid-17th century it was realised that the atmosphere has weight, and that it could be excluded from a closed vessel to create a vacuum. Von Guericke in Magdeburg, and Torricelli in Florence, carried out experiments in this area, creating an understanding of how to create a vacuum which was essential to the development of the steam engine.