The traditional electrical batteries in use throughout the 19th century were composed of a system of large bottles, known as Leyden jars, connected to each other so as to accumulate and then supply large amounts of electricity.
Their neck is fairly wide so as to allow placing of the internal plate, a thin reed of tin or other metal, attached to the sides.
They are held in a wooden box the bottom of which is lined with tin foil and connected to the two metal handles of the box provided to facilitate carrying.
The metal rods inserted into the bottles through the insulating cap are all in contact with each other; on the inside they are in contact with the tin foil lining the inside by means of a tuft of thin reeds or wires.
The battery is charged by connecting one of the poles of an electrostatic generator to the ends of the rods on the outside and one of the handles is earthed by means of a metal chain....continues