Sir Oliver Lodge Electric Resonance Leyden Jar Experiment by Max Kohl Germany

For sale an electric resonance Leyden jar demonstration apparatus by Max Kohl of Germany.

This enormously rare scientific demonstration piece features in the 1904 Max Kohl catalogue and is described as “two Leyden jars according to Lodge for demonstrating electric resonance”. The reference to “Lodge” refers to Sir Oliver Lodge (1878 – 1955) physicist and inventor who created the experiment and who first demonstrated electric or syntonic resonance by way of a lecture at The Royal Institution named “Signalling Through Space” in 1889. His “syntonic jars” experiment was finally patented in 1897 and established the concept of selecting one transmission from many by virtue of different frequencies, a concept which was of significant importance for the development of radio.

The experiment is performed by linking the transmitter Leyden jar to an electrostatic machine, and which has a spark gap provided by two metallic balls attached to the frame above. As the Leyden jar reaches capacity, a spark jumps the gap and with the jar acting as a capacitor and the frame acting as an inductor, a circuit is created that oscillates at a certain frequency.

The receiver (the other Leyden jar) has a frame that is fitted with a sliding piece of metal attached to the top of the frame and when placed near the sparking transmitting Leyden jar and tuned along the frame to the resonant position, the receiver will pick up the radio wave pulses emanating from its counterpart. Ordinarily, the receiver was connected to a light bulb which would then pulse at the same time as the spark was generated on the other.  

The original explanation for the experiment written by Lodge himself shortly afterwards is provided below.

“An experiment exhibited by me in its early stages at The Royal Institution a year ago, an since shown here in various forms, on the overflow of one Leyden jar by the impulses accumulated from a similar jar discharging in its neighbourhood, is so simple an illustration of electric resonance, and so easily repeated by anyone, that I write to describe it.

Two similar Leyden jars are joined up to similar fairly large loops of wire, one of the circuits having a spark gap with knobs included, the other being completely metallic, but of an adjustable length.

The jar of this latter circuit has also a strip of tin foil pasted of its lip so as to provide an overflow path complete with the exception of an air chink. It is important that this overflow path be practically devoid of self-induction. A jar already perforated could be well utilized for the purpose.

Then if the two circuits face each other at a reasonable distance, and if the slider is properly adjusted, every discharge of A causes B to overflow. A shift to the slider puts them out of tune.

Instead of thus adjusting by variable self-induction, my assistant, Mr Robinson has made a slight modification by using a condenser of variable capacity, consisting of two glass tubes coated with tinfoil, one sliding into the other, and joined by a flexible loop of wire; an easy overflow from one coat to the other being likewise provided. On making this loop face the discharge circuit of an ordinary Voss machine with customary small jars in situ, bright sparks at the overflow gap occur whenever the common machine sparks are taken, providing the sliding condenser be adjusted to the right capacity by trial.

There is little or no advantage in using long primary spark; the vibrations are steadier and more definite with short ones. It is needless to point out that the two jars constitute respectively a Hertz oscillator and receiver, but fair precision of timing is more needed with these large capacities than with mere spheres or discs, because the radiation lasts longer and there are more impulses to accumulate. Hence actual resonance as distinguished from the effect of a violent solitary wave is better marked. Moreover, the sparks are bright enough to be easily seen by a large audience.

Oliver J. Lodge – University College, Liverpool.”  

Max Kohl apparatus is highly sought after and this piece is a somewhat rare example of this company’s work. In super condition, it reflects an interesting period in both electrical experimentation and the early history of radio technology.