Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.16651

    A device to prevent chimneys from smoking

    Date
    30 March 1678
    Creator
    John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719, British) , Astronomer
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    f34 p1r
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 317mm
    width (page): 198mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Drawing of a set of three tin tubes of varying width (each an inch wider than the other), inserted into each other and fastened to the chimney so that the wind can escape through the gaps. This was a design by Sir Christopher Wren to prevent smoke from descending back down a chimney. He gave such a vessel, designed by himself, to the Royal Society on 31 December 1668.

    This figure is from a letter by John Flamsteed to Richard Towneley dated 30 March 1678.
    Object history
    31 December 1668, ‘Dr. Wren produced a vessel contrived by himself to cure smoaking chimneys, which he affirmed had proved very effectual by divers trials. It was delivered to Mr. Hooke for the repository’ (Birch 2:336).
    Related fellows
    John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719, British) , Astronomer
    John Moore (1715 - 1734)
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > United Kingdom
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