Thunder house

Description

Thunder house of tin plate, static electricity is applied to the top of the house, and the electricity ignites a can or powder ball in the house creating enough force to blow the walls apart, however, with the lightning rod attached to the tower, the static electricity is safely transported to the ground and the house remains intact, invented to verify Benjamin Franklin's theory of lighting conductors, unknown maker, 2nd half 18th century

Museum reference

T.2003.120

Collection

History of Science

Object name

Thunder house

Date

Second half 18th century

Materials

Tin plate

Physical description

In the shape of a house and tower

Associations

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706 - 1790