Suction pump

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This suction pump was made in England in the late 19th century. It is unsigned. It was used to demonstrate how water is raised from a reservoir by suction - just as water was drawn from wells long before the principle was understood.

The pump has a barrel of glass in the form of a double cone, a rod, a handle and other fittings of brass. The central ring is stamped 'PATENT'.

The demonstration pump was an essential component of 18th- and 19th-century lecture-demonstration apparatus. There were also developments at this time for its use in various applications. For example, suction pumps could be used to operate despatch tubes in department stores with centralised accounts offices. The atmospheric railway operated on the same principle but with limited success.

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-178-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1886.30
• Date: Late 19th century
  
• Material: Glass barrel, brass fittings
  Pump, suction
  
• Dimensions: 25.00" H x 5.75" D
  
• What: Pump, suction
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Hydrostatics (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: England
  
• Event:
• Description: Lift or suction pump with a barrel of glass in the form of a double cone, brass rod, handle and other fittings, unsigned, English, late 19th century
  
• References:
  • Turner, G. L'E., Nineteenth Century Scientific Instruments. London: 1983, pp 96-108, chapter 6 'Pneumatics' 
• Translations:
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