Heating bath

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This heating bath, used for chemical demonstration, was made in the late 18th century, probably in England. It probably contained sand or water and had a lamp placed beneath it to provide gentle heat.

The wooden casing houses an iron bath in which a notch has been removed, possibly to allow the neck of a retort to protrude towards the upright column facing the bath. This column may have supported a clamp to hold the neck of a flask being heated.

Although this item forms a part of the Playfair Collection of chemical apparatus presented to the Industrial Museum of Scotland in 1858 by Professor Lyon Playfair of the University of Edinburgh, it is not known which of his predecessors acquired or used it.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-044-124-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1858.275.22
• Date: Late 18th century
  
• Material: Retort stand / heating bath
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Retort stand / heating bath
  
• Subject:
• Who: Edinburgh University (Owner)
  Joseph Black (Possible owner)
  Professor Gregory (Possible owner)
  Professor Hope (Possible owner)
  
• Where: England
  
• Event:
• Description: One of a collection of apparatus and instruments from Edinburgh University used by Professors Black, Hope and Gregory - a square retort stand enclosing a heating bath
  
• References:
  • Anderson, R. G. W., The Playfair Collection. Edinburgh: 1978, p 107 
• Translations:
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