Machine to raise weights by gunpowder
Date
1688
Creator
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p2
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 210mm
width (page): 126mm
width (page): 126mm
Subject
Description
This figure depicts a machine to raise weights by gunpowder and was enclosed in a letter from Denis Papin to Edmund King. In the letter, Papin describes having seen trials of Christian Huygens's similar engine in Paris before Colbert and published in the 'Nouvelles de la république des lettres' in May 1687. Papin was encouraged to make this engine on a smaller scale, he explains, by the Landgrave of Hesse so that trials could be performed and 'by degrees to improve this invention, with the least possible expense of labour and money, and especially of time'.
Related fellows
Edmond King (1629 - 1709, British) , Knight Physician, Physician
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Associated place