THE YOUNG MAN`S BOOK OF AMUSEMENT |
This wonderful book was published in 1854 and within its 384 pages are Gems of Victorian Science. It`s unpromising, mildly suggestive title belies a veritable cornucopia of experiments.
A vast selection of interesting (& some highly ill-advised) experiments & pastimes from the 19th Century are presented within chapters on -
| magnetism, chemistry, optics, electricity, galvanism, pneumatics, hydrostatics & hydraulics, acoustics, magic-lantern, cards, magic figures, misc. experiments & fire-works. All 384 pages scanned to high resolution, presented in a highly browsable format as an e-book, available here
A small selection (low-res cropped images) from the book - |
 |
Galvanic Experiments on the Dead Body of a Criminal
Beautiful Electrical Experiment
Spectacular tribo-electrical effect using a platinum spatula & calcium oxalate
Valuable Transformation
Gold plating charcoal
Very Beautiful Artificial Petrifactions
"...like a sort of hoar frost..."
The Electric Kite
Lethally ill-advised instructions for repeating Franklin`s experiments
Artificial Volcano
Another endeavour imbued with danger
The Fiery Fountain
Highly dangerous ingredients react, forming a conflagration of phosphine gas
A more powerful Fulminating Powder
The subject of fulminating silver is discussed
Expansive Force of Freezing Water
Colonel E. Williams explodes Royal Artillery shell cases using ice
Method of receiving the Electrical Shock from a Cat
An intriguing demonstration of frictional high voltage electrical generation
On sounds excited in Hydrogen Gas
Mr. Leslie performed acoustic experiments with hydrogen gas
To Recover a Fly after being drowned several hours
Essential knowledge for insect life guards
To obtain exquisite Skeletons of Small Animals
An extremely ingenious method
The Leyden Phial
"...a painful jarring sensation is felt at the joints of the fingers, the elbows, shoulders & chest,..."
To Pierce a Card &c.; by Electricity
"....deprive a man of sensation for a time, if the head be made part of the circuit."
The Inconceivable Shock
"...the whole company would be struck to the ground;"
Electrical Illumination
"To illuminate eggs by electricity,...."
The Miraculous Luminaries
"...will continue to shine for about half an hour,...."
The Illuminated Vacuum
"...a very dense body of fire, darting directly through the centre of the vacuum,..."
Resin Ignited by Electricity
Using a Leyden jar to inflame
Electrified Ball
"...will pass over the surface of the ball and singe it."
Frontispiece of The Young Man`s Book of Amusement
The Title Page - large graphics file
The Pull-Out Frontispiece of Diagrams
Full size version of illustrations under this page title - large graphics file
All 384 pages scanned to high resolution
Presented in a highly browsable format as an e-book
Warning! - Many subjects outlined within the above excerpts are extremely dangerous and are provided here for information only. Please don`t experiment with high voltages or chemicals unless you are fully conversant with safe laboratory practices. No liability will be accepted for death, injury or damage arising from experimentation using any information or materials supplied.
Home Page
A plethora of unusual
science & engineering
Chronicles
Victorian anarchic
experimental science
A selection of odd science products for sale