The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi

I recently bought a battery to display with my class M, I don't intend to use it. I was wondering, how do they work? I never really gave it much thought until now.

Cheers Marcel

Grenet Cell ?

Yes. Indeed it is a grenet cell. The chemistry of it
can be looked up. Those are a type of wet cell known
as a "plunge" cell. The plates are lowered into the
solution when the cell is to be used. Then, when not in
use, the rod connected to the plates is lifted out of
the solution and locked in place using the thumbscrew.
That way, the solution drains off of the plates, preventing needless waste due to chemical activity when
the cell is not delivering current.

Actually, Grenet cells were rarely used with Class Ms after 1890 outside of laboratory/school settings. Storage batteries were far more practical and regularly offered in phonograph catalogs of the 1890s. Here's a 2-page thread about batteries that appeared on this forum (be sure to look over both pages):

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ge+battery

George P.

Thank you Brian, Chuck and George for the replies.

Yes it is a Grenet cell, I bought it recently on Ebay from Italy, I thought it would look nice displayed with my Class M.


Cheers Marcel