Large cylinder frictional electrical machine, said to have belonged to Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). Horizontal cylinder turned directly by a simple crank handle. Cushion and prime conductor each originally supported on insulating stands on opposite sides of cylinder, but stand for the cushion is missing. Simple construction, no maker marked, 1760-1790. See part records.
Base from Franklin's electrostatic machine, on four small casters probably added later. Diamond-shaped base of dark-stained wood with four pillars to support glass cylinder and slot for inserting the bases of the two insulating stands. Pillars are capped by two wooden pieces, one fixed and one removable.
Crank handle from Franklin's electrostatic machine. Simple wooden construction with a freely-rotating handle stained a slightly darker brown than the rest of the crank. Rectangular hole fits onto axle of glass cylinder.
Glass cylinder from Franklin's electrostatic machine (slightly damaged), sealed with red wax to protect against condensation, mounted on sturdy axle.
Insulating glass stand from Franklin's electrostatic machine, supported the prime conductor. Gently tapering thick glass rod mounted on asymmetric wood base which was slotted to fit into base of machine.
T-shaped prime conductor from Franklin's electrostatic machine, apparently made of a wooden core coated with some kind of metallic (tin or lead?) paint (unusual, as prime conductors were usually hollow). Rests on top of insulating stand. Crudely constructed metal comb with about 15 wire prongs extends from side of conductor to accumulate charge from cylinder.
Cushion from Franklin's electrostatic machine. Probably leather. Attached by two metal straps to simple wooden mount intended to rest on top of a tall insulating glass stand similar to 1876-39 Pt4, now missing. Silk flap, once attached to cushion and meant to rest on top of the cylinder to keep charge from 'escaping' as the machine turned, is also missing.
Spurious crank handle found with Franklin's electrostatic machine. Machined from brass, and of a much later vintage than the rest of the machine, but stored with the rest and number-painted with the same inventory number.
