Topic: strange machine - what is it for? - ID = galvanic lighter or galvanic lamp

[Ivo]

Ready for the sequel?  The machine has arrived and is absolutely weird. I hope these details will enable you to figure out which leprous distilment is produced.

The plunger does two things. It lowers what looks like a zinc plate (Anode?) inbetween two probable carbon plates (Cathodes?) and is therefore looks a bit like a Leclanché cell - an early battery invented 1866 according to wikipedia. And it opens the valve on top of the side capsule.

There is no electrical connection to be seen - but it looks like an electrolytic or galvanic device. My resident scientist wonders if it could be used for producing a gas- Cl, H, O who knows.

What happens if the machine is used is:
- a liquid (acid?) is electrolysed; the gas escapes though the opened valve
- after the zinc plate has been raised, the valve closes.

The small capsule was sealed airtight in the thread (remains of sealant suggest this). In the cap there are two holes: the one which is closed off when electrolysys stops; and the other which is a tiny pipe sticking up. Not sure if this was connected to a flexible tube, or if it is purely an escape - perhaps even a burner.

Possibly the use was medical, but laboratory or teaching use cannot be excluded. Total height is 22 cms, 8.3/4"; the length of the side capsule is 3". Age wise it looks like something out the late 19th century or early 20th - but again, we could be worng.

Looking forward to the solution of this mysterium.

[pamela]

Ivo, this morning I've sent you the link to private museums in Hamburg regional pages of DIE WELT. Do you want me to ask Mr. Putz, whether your machine is a galvanic lighter also? 

http://www.welt.de/hamburg/article4938328/Mein-kleines-Museum.html (for those who do not read German: no picture of the lighter collection, pics 4+5 are pressglas-pavillon)

[Ivo]

Aber bitte, Pamela, schick ihn ein Link. Right now the item is under study by our local science museum http://www.museumboerhaave.nl/ - but all help is welcome.

[pamela]

Ivo,

Mr. V. Putz just called back and confirms  :hiclp:

it is a galvanic lighter or galvanic lamp.
He has got several of these in different glass colours, one even in original box with French wording.
He would say yours is end of 19th century, the technique itself is obviously much older.

He will post me copies of an explanatory article on this subject by another German collector which I will scan and upload with all necessary copyrights 

I'll get back to you soon 
 

[Ivo]

BRAVO!
Knowing what it is, I googled myself silly but I am just not getting anywhere.
http://www.ijon.de/sonst/feuerg.html mentions the Fürstenberger and Döbereiner Feuerzeuge - and the later galvanic ones introduced around 1900. it would probably be one of those.

I am most impressed.
 :hug:

[Max]

Congrats on an ID Ivo!  What is a galvanic lighter??

[Bernard C]

Ivo — I'm sure I've seen something similar, but couldn't remember where.   However with the mention of light, my having worked in the coal industry, and my interest in the Purbeck ball clay mines, perhaps it's not surprising.   Background lighting for underground roadways, perhaps?   Possibly in collieries or sewers where there is a fire risk from a naked flame?   You might consider contacting a mining museum.

Bernard C.  

[Ivo]

I realise the link in German may present some problems, so here is an English translation of same... I'm not sure which one of these is the one under discussion, but it seems the function is a bit clearer now.


Electrically lit lighters, Fürstenberg lighters

In electrical lighters, hydrogen was ignited by an electric spark. Johannes Fürstenberg marketed these from 1780. In a recipient, a piece of zinc was lowered into sulphuric acid which generated hydrogen. The hydrogen accumulated in a dome, and forced the acid into a glass cylinder. The hydrogen could then be released by opening a valve. The acid in the cylinder ensured the required pressure.

An Electrostat (such as a block of resin in a metal plate) was now charged by rubbing it with a fox tail. Then the valve was opened, it moved along a brass bar which discharged the electrostat in such a way that the ensuing spark lit the hydrogen. A carefully designed Fürstenberg lighter worked very well, and was odourless (unlike chemical lighters). Disadvantages were the high price, the problematic portability and the fiddly refilling of acid.

The Döbereiner Lighter

The principle of the Fürstenberg lighter was improved by Döbereiner. In stead of an electric spark, the hydrogen was lit by directing it towards a platinum sponge. This caused a catalytic oxidation. The release of energy heated the platinum until the hydrogen ignited.

Döbereiner lighters were sold in Germany between 1827 and 1880, and were found in many of the more affluent households in Germany and England. Even if there were numerous accidents with exploding hydrogen, they were very popular.

Lighters with galvanic elements

At the end of the 18th century, Luigi Galvani invented the so called galvanic elements, and already in 1823 these were used to make lighters. The current which was generated was led over a platinum wire, which heated up and started to glow. The glowing wire could be used to light a tinder, a sponge or a hydrogen flow.

Such galvanic lighters were only manufactured comercially from around 1900. In 1909 a galvanic pocket lighter (with lint) was brought on the market.

[Bernard C]

...   You might consider contacting a mining museum.   ...

Ooops, perhaps not!   :spls:

Bernard C. 

[Max]

Thanks for the explanation Ivo.  :thup: