Ramsden electrical machine

Made:: 1800-1899

maker:: Jesse Ramsden

Details

Category:: Electricity and Magnetism

Object Number:: 1936-595

type:: electrical machine

credit:: The Royal Institution

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Parts

Two Glass Rods on Wooden Tripod Bases

Two glass rods on wooden tripod bases, broken and incomplete, supports for prime conductor (Pt 5) associated with Ramsden electrical machine but not part of it.

Measurements:: overall (4 of 5): 80 mm x 490 mm x 300 mm,
overall (3 of 5): 80 mm x 950 mm x 300 mm,
overall (2 of 5): 420 mm x 460 mm x 460 mm,
overall (1 of 5): 450 mm x 460 mm x 460 mm,
overall (5 of 5): 80 mm x 530 mm x 80 mm,

Object Number:: 1936-595 Pt1

type:: rod

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Four pairs of friction pads

Four pairs of friction pads, associated with Ramsden electrical machine but possibly not all belonging to it, also an envelope containing tinfoil and marked "Original tinfoil from outside of Leyden jar of Nairne's machine."

Object Number:: 1936-595 Pt2

type:: friction pads

Two cylindrical brass conductors

Two cylindrical brass conductors, two U-shaped brass charge collectors, one brass connecting rod, and four glass legs (one broken and part missing) of the prime conductor assembly of Ramsden electrical machine. (Wooden base missing.)

Measurements:: U-shaped collectors (each): 55 mm x 320 mm x 180 mm,
Connecting rod: 1140 mm 90 mm,
Glass legs (each): 1000 mm 130 mm,
Cylindrical brass conductor (each): 1300 mm 240 mm,

Object Number:: 1936-595 Pt3

type:: conductors

Stand associated with Ramsden electrical machine

One stand (possibly for a prime conductor) comprising two wooden feet with wooden tie-bar and two glass rods, two additional glass rods (of different type), a prime conductor (which does not fit the stand) consisting of a rusty metal tube and two metallised wooden balls fitting in the ends, a crank handle, a small brass ball on a (bent) metal rod, a long flexible conductor consisting of several rods (one of them on a handle) joined by wires, and a conductor with two hinged joints (one broken); all parts associated with Ramsden electrical machine but not necessarily part of it.

Object Number:: 1936-595 Pt4

type:: stand

Large prime conductor

Large prime conductor (hollow wooden cylinder with hemispherical ends, foil covered, one end broken off but present), of size to fit on supports listed as Pt 1, associated with Ramsden electrical machine but not originally part of it