On a pentagonal wooden table are mounted metal supports, connected to each other by metal strips, that house six Leyden jars, the earliest type of capacitor. These consist of glass vases partially covered on the outside by thin sheets of tin, which constitute the external conductor; the wooden stopper of each jar is perforated by a brass rod, to the internal end of which are attached numerous strips of metal foil; these rest on the bottom of the vessel, forming the condenser’s internal conductor. The rods that protrude from the caps are curved so as to connect to a single central sphere.

The cells of this battery are connected in parallel, allowing a large amount of charge to accumulate, which produces intense sparks between the ends of a discharger.

The instrument was acquired in 1821 or 22.

Device on display.