Franklin's Bells
During one of his many experiments around the middle of the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin noticed that a pith ball or cork would initially be attracted to a charged object, but if the two touched the ball would be repelled.  He realized that this was because the two objects were initially charged differently (dissimilar charges attract) but once they touched they took on the same charge (similar charges repel).

Franklin realized that if he replaced the charged object with a bell, he could make an "electric bell."  He soon found practical use for his bell as a lightning detector.  When connected it to his lightning rod, the bell would ring whenever an electrical storm was nearby.

Apparently he forgot to disconnect the bells during one of his many trips to France and his wife was quite unhappy with him!

 

Electrical Orrery 1850 - 1860 Representations of the sun, earth and moon in painted wood and bone. All three are balanced on two brass wires and rotate when exposed to static electricity from static generator. This electro-static philosophical accessory is pictured in Benjamin Pike's 1848 Catalog Vol I. fig 316, pg 282; also pictured and described in numerous Natural Philosophy books and other trade catalogs of the period; pictured and described in the King George III Collection as well. American made

Hand-held Sparkling Tube
Likely French
mid 19th century

 

Electrical Aurora Tube Likely American 1840's Used to create spark and light effect with electro-static generator. Scintillating Glass Globe Italian 1820's With a silver dotted foil spiral conductor which carries electrostatic sparks continuously down the spiral in a dazzling display.		Scintillating Spiral Tube English 1850's Sprial Tube American 1850 Spiral Tube Array 1870 Popular electrostatic accessories where a dramatic electric display would be created if a static charge were applied to the brass ball finial atop the hand-blown glass tube, the charge would spiral down the path of tin foil disks leading down the tube(s).
Dancing Images - 1840's   From the objects in the collection constructed by J.M. Wightman. See pg 216 of Select Experiments in Natural Philosophy by Joseph M. Wightman and illustrated in his 1842 and 1858 trade catalogs as well. Made of walnut and has an adjustable metallic plate. Images of pith or paper figures are put between the plates, and the top plate is connected to the conductor of an electrostatic machine; the images will then begin to "dance" around. Missing top plate. American		Dancing Figures Apparatus - 1st Qtr, 19th Century Little figures of pith or paper are meant to be cut out and laid on the lower brass plate; the top brass terminal is connected to an electrostatic machine and the pith/paper figures begin to dance and jump as they carry the charge back and forth between the plates.  French, 1st quarter of the Nineteenth Century.

Volta "Multi-Pistol" Six Volta cannons arranged on a spinning disk. The cannons fire in sequence as each cannon's electrode touches the static machine. Volta Cannon Air Cannon c. 1900   Very Early Voltas Cannister - 1820's The elegant flask shape is 5" at it's highest point. Provenance, design, and detailing of brass suggest that this objects dates from the first quarter of the Nineteenth Century and was very likely contemporary with Allessandro Volta. Italian, Very fine condition. Circa 1820's Electrostatic Weapons? In 1777 Allesandro Volta was interested in the characteristics of swamp gases.  In order to test flammability he invented his cannon (see below). He would collect swamp gas then fill his pistol with it. The cork on top would be put in after the pistol was filled, to keep the gas from escaping. There would be a metal rod tipped with a brass ball in the cork at the bottom which would serve as a spark plug. If the gas were flammable, and the proportions right, it would explode when sparked. Volta's early pistols were capable of sending a lead ball twenty feet, and denting a board.18 Long after its scientific use had gone, the Volta Pistol remained a favorite lecture-hall demonstration. These devices was hardly practical as weapons and certainly not nearly as effective as gunpowder weapons which were common at the time.  Volta Cannon C. 1860 Angelo Arrighini Italy Volta Pistol Early Volta Cannon 1787 Inscribed cannon base "Pistola du Volta 1787" Group of Volta Canisters - Late 19th Century From right to left: 1 Volta Canister with Bullseye made of polychromed andvariously painted tin, cork glass and brass; measures 7-1/2" high and bullseye circle is 3-1/2" diameter; 2) Volta's Canister made of above materials, measures 4-1/4" in height; 3) Philosophical Instrument made of same painted tin and multi-colored striped barrel which fits into the main tin container. Unknown what this device was used to demonstrate but likely hydrostatics; measures 7-1/2" in height.  French or German, late 19th century.

Kelvin's Thunderstorm
In 1867 Lord Kelvin -  William Thomson (1824-1907) demonstrated that static electricity could be produced from dripping water.

His experiment consisted of a metal tank filled with distilled water suspended above a table.  The bottom of the tank contained two drains with taps to control the flow of the dripping water. Below each tap was a metal can that collected the water.  A  copper loop was placed just below each tap, between the tap and the can,  so that water dripped from the tap through the loop and into the can below. The loops and cans were cross-connected with a wire (i.e. the loop under the the tap on the right was connected to the can under the tap on the left, and visa versa.)

As the water drops through the air towards the collection can, it obtains a small static charge through induction. Over a period of time the charges build up in the Leyden jars until a spark occurs at the gap. For a detailed explanation of Kelvin's Thunderstorm, see the following page: http://www.amasci.com/emotor/kelvin.html
 

Dischargers were used with early friction electrostatic machines to transfer electricity from the machine to another device such as a Leyden jar.

Riess Distributing Apparatus and Harris Insulated Conductor - 1885
These devices were used in early experiments with electric fields produced by high voltage friction electrostatic machines.  They were used to demonstrate distribution of charges across the surface of an object as well as induction  - where the charge on one object creates a charge on another object.

Field Demonstration Apparatus
1900

Max Kohl Field Demonstration Apparatus - 1900
This apparatus was used to demonstrate distribution of electric fields on a surface.  It consists of a metal screen with paper strips attached to the surface of the screen (the strips are missing on this unit.) The screen may be manipulated using two insulated handles. As the screen is brought together into a closed loop, the paper strips on the outside surface stand out, while the inside strips do nothing - demonstrating that charge is carried on the outside of a closed surface.

Lightning Rods
Invented by Benjamin Franklin, lightning rods were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries throughout the US and Europe.  See Thunder House, above, for more information on lightning rods.