(William E. Staite), “Specification of Staite's Patent Electric Light, [Patent dated July 13, 1847—specifications enrolled July 13, 1848.]” in the “Specification of English Patents sections, in Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania, devoted to the Mechanical Arts, Manufactures, General Science, and the Recording of American and other Patented Inventions, printed in Philadelphia at the Franklin, 1849; volume 17, third series, whole no. 47, pp 263-268, with 8 small woodcut figures of the apparatus. Offered in the volume of 498pp. Half-calf and marbled boards, raised bands, gilt dentelles. Good/VG condition, with a ghost-appearance of a spine label at bottom and rubbing along spine edges, ex-library stamps on title page, and a large (and not very attractive) bookplate. Crisp copy. $150
“W.E. Staite (1809-54) and W. Petrie (1821-1904) were pioneers of electric lighting who received little recognition for their work. Although a satisfactory self-regulating arc lamp was developed, commercial success was not achieved owing to their reliance on primary batteries as the only source of power. Numerous demonstrations were given throughout England, and serious interest in their system of electric lighting was shown by railway companies and dock authorities. The death of Staite in 1854 brought to an end these early attempts to use electricity for illumination.” And: “The pioneers...were finally defeated by the limitations and the expense of the primary cells which were their only source of electrical energy. --“Staite and Petrie: pioneers of electric lighting”, G. Woodward, in IEE Proceedings A - Physical Science, Measurement and Instrumentation, Volume: 136 , Issue: 6 , Nov. 1989.
Also in this volume:
Richad Clarke Burleigh, “Specifications...for Certain Improvements in Artificial Light”, pp 98-102;
Robert Bunsen and Lyon Playfair, “Report on the Gases evolved from Iron Furnaces, with reference to the Theory of the Smelting of Iron”, pp 268-279, 338-344,387-393, and concluded in the next volume;
George Buchanan, “On the Strength of Materials as Applicable to the Construction of Wrought Iron Bridges.--On the Traverse or Cross Strain”; 223-230;
J.F.W. Herschel, “Description of a Lunar Rainbow”, p 123;
Thomas Ewbank, “On the Paddles of Steamers...” pp 42-50, 107-114;
and many others on railroads, bridges, steam, and so on.
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