Nairne Electrical Machine, 1773
Prior to the construction of the van Marum machine, this electrical machine built by Edward Nairne produced the longest sparks. The wheel turned a glass cylinder 19 inches long and 12 inches in diameter; and a large pad, fastened to two horizontal glass rods, pressed upon the cylinder. The main conductor was of brass, one foot in diameter and five feet long and rested on glass columns. A chain connected the bottom of the receiving pillar to the pad, thus completing the circuit. With this machine sparks up to 14 inches were drawn. With a battery of 64 Leyden jars, Nairne disintegrated an iron wire 1/151 inches in diameter and 3 feet 9 inches long. Edward Nairne (1726 - September 1, 1806) was English optician and scientific instrument maker. He patented several electrical machines, including an electrostatic generator consisting of a glass cylinder mounted on glass insulators; the device can supply either positive or negative electricity, and was intended for medicinal use.
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