Circular wooden lid; top is slightly convex; a ball handle attaches at apex; bottom two-thirds of ball banded with metal; bottom projects narrower cylinder at 90°; three cork pads attach at 120° around cylinder; chain attaches to flat bottom by nut and bolt.
Circular wooden lid; top is slightly convex; a ball handle attaches at apex; bottom two-thirds of ball banded with metal; bottom projects narrower cylinder at 90°; three cork pads attach at 120° around cylinder; chain attaches to flat bottom by nut and bolt.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned and used by Dr. C.H. Bird of Gananoque, Ontario
Lifetime of C.H. Bird; Influence Machine patented 1883
Material
wood: brown
cork: brown
metal: yellow
Inscriptions
None
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-C1-2
Dimension Notes
Length 40.3 cm x Diam. 12.3 cm
Condition Remarks
Minor staining on lid top; one cork pad has half cracked away; chain has extensive non-structural, inactive corrosion
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Person
JPG
Reference Comments
Conversation with Mr. Robert Bird, 4 July 2003; manual for Morton-Wimshurst-Holtz influence engine; also see "The Life and Times of Dr. C.H. and H.G. Bird," p. 8; CD #7
Research Facts
Functionally identical to 997.037.537b; used to magnify visual effects of Influence Machine by creating large sparks; also used as a high voltage source when influence machines were used to power early X-ray machines.