Lamp furnace

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This oil-burning lamp furnace was used in chemical demonstrations for heating preparations to high temperatures. It dates from around 1800 and was made, probably in England, to a design by Robert Percival (1756-1839).

The single-wick lamp is surrounded by a tinned iron furnace which contains a hinged door and is supported on three legs. A flared upper portion is fixed to the top to accommodate the vessel to be heated, which can be supported by six adjustable wire rods.

Robert Percival was an Irishman who had graduated with an MD at the University of Edinburgh in 1780. In 1785 he was elected first professor of chemistry at Trinity College in Dublin. This example may have been acquired by Joseph Black and was demonstrated by his successor T. C. Hope to the chemistry class.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-044-121-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1858.275.19
• Date: Around 1800
  c. 1800
  
• Material: Furnace, lamp
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Furnace, lamp
  
• Subject: 4. CHEMISTRY (Departmental Classification)
  
• 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 lamp furnace
  
• References:
  • Anderson, R. G. W., The Playfair Collection. Edinburgh: 1978, p 103 
  • Percival, Robert, 'Account of a Chamber Lamp Furnace' in Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy 4 (1791) p 91 
• Translations:
• Related Records: