Dailey Static Electric Motor
date: label: date made
content: 1880
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This machine operates by the direct action of static electric attractions and repulsions. It is constructed entirely of fine wood, glass and hard rubber, there being no magnetic materials used. The flywheel is of laminated, soft wood and runs in journal bearings of very small diameter. The moving balls, mounted on the walking beam of vulcanite, are made of wood, hollowed out so that the walls are about 2 millimeters thick. They are covered with aluminum foil for static conductivity. The stationary balls are of solid wood. Made by Elijah M. Dailey in 1880, in Battle Creek, MI.
label: Description (Brief)
content: To operate the engine the stationary balls are charged with electricity from a static electric generator, such as a Holtz machine, the upper balls being connected through the brass ball to one pole of the machine while the lower stationary balls are connected through the binding post on the bed frame of the opposite pole of the machine. Under proper conditions, when charged the engine will make about 375 revolutions per minute. The walnut base upon which the engine is mounted is 14" long, 4" wide and 1 3/4" thick. The movable balls are about 1.5" in diameter; the upper stationary balls are 1.75" in diameter; and the lower stationary balls, 1.5". The four glass rods, mounted vertically, are about 6" high and spaced 6 inches apart along the bed. The diameter of the flywheel is 5.75". It is gilded and has small wire spokes. The connecting rod is 7" in length.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Howard B. Dailey
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.308234
label: catalog number
content: 308234
label: accession number
content: 71309
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Electrostatic Engine
label: Other Terms
content: Electrostatic Engine; Electrostatic Devices
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 3/4 in x 4 in x 14 in; 4.445 cm x 10.16 cm x 35.56 cm