Bottle, probably made by Thomas Beddoes & James Watt

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This iron bottle for generating oxygen dates from around 1800. It is thought to have been part of an apparatus produced by Thomas Beddoes (1709-1808) and James Watt (1736-1819).

The iron bottle is fitted at its mouth with a cylindrical iron adaptor, into which is jammed a conical iron tube. When the bottle is placed in a fire, it produces oxygen from manganese dioxide.

Thomas Beddoes was an Englishman who studied medicine under Joseph Black at Edinburgh. He believed in the therapeutic effect of inhaling gases, including oxygen for asthma.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-044-128-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1858.275.26
• Date: Around 1800
  c. 1800
  
• Material: Iron
  Bottle, oxygen making
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Bottle, oxygen making
  
• Subject:
• Who: Beddoes and Watt ?, England (Maker)
  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 - an iron bottle for making oxygen
  
• References:
  • Anderson, R. G. W., The Playfair Collection. Edinburgh: 1978, p 115 
• Translations:
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