Electric Egg

The electric egg is a glass vessel with an electrode at the top and another electrode at the bottom. At the bottom also is a tube with stopcock through which the air in the vessel can be pumped. It is used to demonstrate the production of light by a static electric charge. If the egg is evacuated and then a large static charge is place on the upper electrode, perhaps by connecting it to a static machine, a glow fills the egg. This was once suggested as a way to produce safe illumination in mines, but it was found that the glow does not persist long enough to be useful.

This instrument was sold by Queen & Co. but probably was manufactured in Europe. The date is unknown.

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Modern_Physics

James W. Queen & Co.

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