>170 years and still running !

[Slider2732]

The Oxford Electric Bell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Electric_Bell



This line stumped me:
"The bell will eventually stop when the dry piles are depleted of charge"
The cells are dry, so who's logic states that such cells will ever quit running ? how can they be sure ?
It started up in 1840, and, if indeed it did stop, it would present the hugest of energy densities for any cell chemistry.
Got to wonder about the Marcus Reid salts cells when looking at this device...did Marcus study the Bell I wonder.

[PhysicsProf]

Interesting -- is it STILL sitting at Oxford University?  are they saying it is NOT ou I wonder?  a galvanic cell lasting a lifetime, 2 life-times, is impressive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dx1-f8xQio   I'm watching this now.

And this report:

Finally, at the Clarendon Laboratory at the University of Oxford we have the Oxford Electric Bell that has been ringing continuously since 1840. The bell is powered by two batteries coated in sulphur, but no one knows what they are made of. The bell shows no signs of stopping and the clapper will likely wear out before the batteries do.

[TinMan]

I wonder if cleaning the glass dome would create a static charge that is stored and slowly bleeds out to run the bell?.
And this would get cleaned atleast once a week i would think-any thoughts on that?.