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A Victorian Spark Generator

Contributed by Nick Butt

A Victorian Spark Generator

This Object was Given to my father by Cavendish Labs in about 1952. It was probably used by JJ Thompson in his experiments to discover the electron. I used to have a picture of him standing in his laboratory with it in the background. When my father retired from academic life he left it in his office in Mallet Street.
On our wedding day (we had been living together for 15 years), we parked behind my fathers old office and laboratory. My wife saw this beautiful Rosewood box in a skip and a passing security guard gave up permission to retrieve it. She still refers to it as the only wedding present we got.
My father told us it's history when he recognised it.

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About this object

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Location

Harry W. Cox Ltd, Cursitor St.

Culture
Period
Theme
Size
H:
30cm
W:
65cm
D:
25cm
Colour
Material

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