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Main Terminal
English?, circa 1800
The main terminal is the part of an electrostatic generator that collects and holds the static electricity. It has points to collect the electricity (like a tiny lightning rod) from the rubbed surface of the glass. It has a fairly large surface of metal to store the electricity on. And it has an insulator (usually of glass) to hold the terminal in place without the charge leaking to the ground. This particular terminal is probably by the celebrated John Cuthbertson, who was working in England and Holland in the years around 1800. It has a metal dovetail (on the left end of the glass rod) which fits into a matching slot on the frame of the electrostatic generator. That way it could be easily assembled and disassembled, while retaining its adjustment. |
| The Bakken A Library and Museum of Electricity in Life 3537 Zenith Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55416-4623, USA Join our E-Mail List Contact Us Tele: 612-926-3878 Fax: 612-927-7265 |
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