A full description of the new appliances in all their details would have required a much larger book; but such details are rather for the engineer and student; and the writer has only aimed at giving the reader an understanding of all the essential parts of the new inventions, and their modes of action within the limits assigned to him. So far as he is aware, it is the first attempt to popularise the subject in all its branches which has yet been made in this country. The book will be understood, it is hoped, without any prior knowledge of electrical science by the reader, and the price is such as to bring it within the reach of a very large number. For a number of the illustrations the author has to thank Mr. Dredge of Engineering; and Mr. Alabaster of the Electrical Review, as well as Mr. Biggs of the Electrician, have also kindly permitted him to use woodcuts taken from their esteemed journals. Should the book be any help to those who are anxious to know something of the feats and ways of that mysterious but fascinating force we term electricity, should it stimulate them to learn more, the purpose will be fulfilled, and his wishes gratified. CONTENTS. Discovery of electricity by Thales of Miletus-Frictional elec- PAGE 1 Volta's pile-Daniell's battery-Polarisation-Leclanche's bat- tery-Bichromate of potash battery-Warren de la Rue's cell-Bennet's iron cell-Bunsen's and Grove's batteries— Circuit, resistance, electro-motive force-Ohm's Law-The CHAPTER IV. THE TELEGRAPH. I. Overland Lines-Gauss and Weber's lines-Cooke and Wheatstone's line-Capture of Tawell-Morse, "Father of the Telegraph "-Wires-Insulators-Receiving and sending instruments Signals-Morse Code-Morse ink-writer Sounder-Bright's bell instrument-Single needle instrument -Mirror galvanometer-Wheatstone's automatic sender.- II. Duplex system Quadruplex system Gray's har- monic telegraph-Meyer's system-Hughes' type-printing instrument Exchange telegraphs-Cowper's telegraphic pen. PAGE Bell's telephone-Edison's carbon transmitter-Edison's re- ceiving instrument-Hughes's microphone-Blake's trans- mitter-Wire-gauze transmitter-Gower-Bell telephone- THE PHOTOPHONE AND TELEPHOTOGRAPH. Heliograph-Bell's photophone-Mercadier's cell-Tone tele- Hughes's induction balance-Sonometer-Assayer-Delicacy of balance-Primary and secondary coils-Bullet finding, etc.- Davy's and Faraday's discoveries-Magneto-electric generators -Gramme's machine-Machine of Siemens Brothers-Brush's Arc lights-The "voltaic arc "-Geissler tubes-Incandescent lights-Brockie's lamp-Brush's lamp-Siemens' lamps- Rapieff's lamp-Regulator lamps-Solignac lamp-Jabloch- koff's candle-Jamin's candle-"Lamp soleil"-Large arc lights-Regnier's and Werdermann's lamp-Joel's lamp--In- candescent lamps-Edison's incandescent lamp - Swan, Maxim, Lane-Fox, Wright, Duplex, and Gatehouse lamps- Uses of incandescent lamps-Arrangements of lamps-Accu- Power of electric current-Reversibility of dynamo machines- Temperature of light-Incandescent Siemens' electric furnace- CHAPTER XII. MISCELLANEOUS. Decomposition of water by electric current-Voltameter-Bain's meter-Electrotyping-Elkington's process-Nickel-plating— Electrolysis-Electric alarms-Thermostat-Butterfly clock PAGE 167 |