Battery, known as Smee battery

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This battery, known as a 'Smee battery' was made in England in the 19th century.

The battery consists of six cells, in which the positive plates are made of zinc and the negative plates of silver. The liquid - no longer present - was dilute sulphuric acid.

Current electricity is produced when two metals are combined with moisture. Many attempts were made during the 19th century to produce an electric battery that was compact, durable and safe.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-725-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1859.345
• Date: 19th century
  
• Material: Zinc and silver plates
  Battery, galvanic
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Battery, galvanic
  
• Subject: 8. ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Galvanic (Departmental Classification)
  22. PHYSICS, Magnetism and Electricity (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Smees (Eponym)
  
• Where: England
  
• Event:
• Description: Galvanic battery based on Smees principle, with six cells, with zinc positive plates and silver negative plates, unsigned, English, 19th century
  
• References:
  • For an overview of current electricity, see G.L'E. Turner, Nineteenth Century Scientific Instruments. London, 1983, esp. ch. 11, 'Electricity', pp 198-202.. 
  • Ganot's Physics, London 1872, pp 641-2. 
• Translations:
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