An old engraving of a ‘vortex box’ from the 1800s. It is from Victorian book of the 1890s on sports, games and pastimes. This smoke-filled tea chest, decorated with a face at the front and a cut-out mouth, is designed to entertain viewers by emitting smoke, in the form of a vortex ring, from the mouth when the rear (the open side of the chest covered with canvas) is tapped. The two flasks of chemicals, at the side, are heated to supply the white ‘smoke’ (ammonium chloride) in the box.
An old engraving of a ‘vortex box’ from the 1800s. It is from Victorian book of the 1890s on sports, games and pastimes. This smoke-filled tea chest, decorated with a face at the front and a cut-out mouth, is designed to entertain viewers by emitting smoke, in the form of a vortex ring, from the mouth when the rear (the open side of the chest covered with canvas) is tapped. The two flasks at the side are heated to supply the smoke in the box. Suggested chemicals are ammonia solution and a solution of hydrochloric acid; when the flasks are heated, the gases given off will combine to form a white ‘smoke’ of ammonium chloride. Health and safety regulations were not much in evidence in the Victorian era.
Size: 2835px × 2732px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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