Aepinus Condenser

13 Sep 2024

The Aepinus Condenser is an early type of variable capacitor. A capacitor is a device used to store electric charge. 

The unit pictured is recorded in the National Inventory of Historic Scientific Instruments by Charles Mollan, entry 1943 UCP 170. It was manufactured by Yeates & Son, Dublin some time in the late 19^th Century. It has a mahogany base and slides for glass pillars to brass brackets and discs with central glass disc. On top of the resin-coated glass pillars are brass sleeves and spheres. At right angles to the latter are brass rod supports to centres of brass discs. On top of the brass spheres are rods with smaller sphere and brass wire crooks (for pith balls). Fixed boxwood central pillar from base holds mahogany support for central glass disc. One of four disc feet missing and one detached.