Description
Gold leaf electroscope, invanted by Abraham Bennet (English clergyman and physicist, 1749 - 1799) in 1787. This is an instrument for detecting and measuring static electricity or voltage. A metal disc is connected to a narrow metal plate and a thin piece of gold leaf is fixed to the plate. The whole of this part of the electroscope is insulated from the body of the instrument. A glass front prevents air draughts but allows you to watch the behaviour of the leaf. Wood engraving, published in 1880.