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
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            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.
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            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).
                            
                            
                        
                            
                            
                            
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