Combustion tube. A glass tube about 40 centimetres long with brass fittings and turned wooden knobs on either end. On one end the knob can be pulled or pushed to operate a plunger inside the tube.

ABDNP:201763a

Thick glass tube with hand operated piston with brass end caps; wooden 'doorknob' handles at either end; inflammable vapour is inserted into tube (ether?) and then compressed firmly with piston; when compression is high enough the vapour spontaneously explodes with flash (explosion of vapour under compression is principal behind diesel engine, demonstration predates Diesel's development by a century).

1780-1810

glass, brass, wood, metal
length 410 mm; diameter 50 mm

Physical Object