Museo Galileo
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Nobili's battery for his metalochromic apparatus
    • Setting:
      Room XVI
    • Inventor:
      Leopoldo Nobili
    • Maker:
      unknown
    • Date:
      ca. 1830
    • Materials:
      wood, copper, zinc, glass
    • Dimensions:
      box 135x105x90 mm
    • Inventory:
      3761
    • Nobili's battery for his metalochromic apparatus (Inv. 3761)

Battery consisting of 12 elements in a wooden box crudely coated with sealing-wax varnish. The elements are alternating copper and zinc plates (electrodes), secured to a wooden rod resting on the box. They are separated by glass plates set in grooves. This simple type of battery, probably used by Leopoldo Nobili for making metalochromes, was based on William Cruickshank's "trough battery." Provenance: Lorraine collections.