Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-01

" that Franklin during
his last sojourn in England made an electric
lamp, and that he could produce from it with
his primitive appliances sufficient electric light
to read by. This antedates the achievement Of
Edison by more than q hundred years. The
lamp is in good state Of preservation. and has
recently been tested by its owner, gentleman
residing near London. who finds that it works
as satisfactorily now as when Franklin himself
Experimental with it. 1t is a curiosity Of great
value and Importance in illustrating the history
OF electric lighting
There are several other pieces Of apparatus,
formerly the property of Franklin, in the col
lection with the old lamp, including large and
powerful electric machine. A detailed descrip-
tion and list Of the rare old relics is contained
in Mr.. Stevens recent letter to the Depart
ment Of State, which announces also that he
has the permission Of the owner to offer them
to our government, properly packed and de-
lvered on board the steamer at Liverpool or
Southampton for $4,000.
The official list of the relics is follows: One
large electrical glass cylinder, VII. collars and
handle silk cover and leather rubber. frame for
supporting cylinder Of strong wooden pillars.
base for supporting frame, portion Of which
has been renewed; two glass pillars for support
ing prime and negative conductors (the pillar
for the negative being fractured). prime and
negative conductors, covered with foil: few
Y l.
side ball at one end and metallic point at the
other; Franklins interesting experiment for
producing electrical light, an old electrometer,
one or two vacuum globes and some miscella-
ueous items.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The old electric lamp. which for the stndent
~ oIoctr;.o, ;rvar,;ons 81 Las, :. N. r,os, i,
-. - A..
'eresuhg FEATURE OF Inc coiiec'ion, Is Dy no
fho linht he Ian
Of modern times Its principle. however. Is
that OF the arc light without carbon points,
this dev1ce-which was invented by Sir Hum
phrey Davy In lSl5-nrst demonstrating the
practicability OF electric lighting. The total
length OF the cylinder, within which the light
Is produced, Is about twelve inches and Its
diameter three inches. Each end is provided
with attachments for connecting 1t with the
positive and negative poles OF the machine
wnicn, IL should De remembered, WAS the only
means OF generating electricity with which
men were then familiar.
The electric light in this rude but ingenious
device was produced by the leaping Of the in
tercepted current from the ball to the metallic
pun. ihs,uo 'no luz, muion was nen'ioueo III
closed nnSoubtedlv for the sams rs sso ,ha,
the globes of the arc light are partially closed
at present, and the light given off is steady and
brilliant.
The machine with which Franklin generated
his electricity for tbi. MOVE, e,ne,;mant IA
,,,
'uiheu W a',""A, s'i"ue'one iNe' anu was 'ne
most powerful ana complete In construction OF
any electrical machine OF that day. This crank
turns ponaerous glass cyhnoer' ~nich Is
rubbed by brushes with SILK covers. These
brushes convey the electricity collected from
the cylinder TO the prime ana negative con-
ductors supported on large glass pillars, where
1t can be used Tor purposes OF experiment
Inc machine Is st"ncnly ouilt ana Is capable
or producing an electric spark Twelve or hfteen
inches long. "hlie simple IN us construction
II couid not De mucn improved upon by our
wisest electricians. IL Is especially adapted Tor
the advanced experiments OF various KINDS
winch franklin was engaged with AZ that period
OF ms me.
Inc history Oh .hese o,a rei'cs mas oeen on'
OF strange vicissitudes. They have always been
IN the possession OF gentlemen Interested IN
the study OF eiectriciTy' ana were IL not Tor
THIS ract might not Dc In tnelr present Rooo
state OF Rresefvation. Inc Presen, owner Is
Dr. u. ". h1cnardson' a man VINO hves In the
Vicinlty OF Lonooh.
THE HISTORY OF THE APPARATUs
His account of the history OF the apparatus
o.. given 70 NJ stevens ia "a fo,,owa.
Or, ;. -
LUG ni"ouine n"' oe0n AL NY po''0'ion oVer
forty years. 1t was presented to me by the
idso NOV. III. VI Shoen' hSoA IoHuoH,
as one that was used by the celebrated
Benjamin Franklin FOR his researches and
demonstrations while he resided in England:
1t was reported as made Ior MIN oy George
Adams ABOUT tue year 1f'I-o. ADAMS was
well-known maker OF machines and added to
the early machines many improvements This
machine corresponds enureiy 10 the plates IL
Illustrative OF his workmanship ana there Is no
reason to doubt on this point:
The account given to me by the donor was
that from his early davs ne was deeply inter-
ested in the study OF electricity In its practical
form, that he heard OF This machine as being
FOR sale At an INSTITUTION called the London
Science Institute. as machine employed by
the distinguished benjamin franklin. and that
he became purchaser OF II. he learned to
work 1t. and being engaged In teaching, made
great use OF 1t FOR considerable series OF
years.
AT the time he gave the instrument to me
Ut. FincAhey was o'er esntv years oi age.
~ 80 IA s.oYvaS + go LII -.
lat and druggist in his neiehborhood at sheen.
near London. Unfortunately the chemist
placed 1t In store room underground. and 50
the wooden base on which the pillars we're sup
ported became 80 oestroyeo tnst IL would not
hold together IN one piece put proke, ike touch
WOOD. causing tne oestruction OF the lettering
detalilng the history OF the macnine ana the
date OF the construction OF IT, IL was neces-
sary, under these circumstances, 10 make a new
PLATFORM ior the oase, ana THIS Is the only part
that required repiacement me oynnder, the