THE STORAGE BATTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 14 (Supplement)

THE STORAGE BATTERY.

SOME EARLY DEVELOPMENTS

The historical story of the invention of the storage battery dates back for only about 80 years, and of that period there is really only approximately 10 years in which any appreciable development occurred. The first attempt in the storage of electricity was made by Musschenbroek in 1745. He was successful in storing a small quantity of electricity within a bottle, but for periods of only 10, 20 or 30 seconds, anil his experiment, therefore, was of no real value. Volta, in 1783, developed his condenser, and later, in 1800, his crown of cups, or voltaic pile, which was a battery consisting of two different metals and a liquid. Not until tho year 1801, however, -was seen the inception of what might be termed the scientific era of tho storago battery, when Gautherot demonstrated that platinum or silver wire, when nsed in electrolysis of saline solutions, developed secondary currents. Subsequently such famous scientists as Volta, Davy, Sir William Grove, Wheatstone and others continued those experiments, which finally terminated with the advent of Plante's first practical cell. It was Gaston Planle who seems to have been the first to thoroughly appreciate tho real importance of these various phenomena, and to him 13 given the credit as tho real inventor of the storage battery in 1859. Basis of Modem Typos.

Following Plantc, two other inventors, Faure and Brush, though working independently, developed the pasted plate simultaneously in 1880. Jt is the work of these two men wltich is the basis of tho construction used to-day in motor-car and radio batteries. For a period of ten years following 1880 thoro was great activity in storage battery invention. Volkner, in 1881, originated tho cast grid. Sillon, the following year, introduced the use of antimony both for strengthening and to resist oxidation. Although, particularly during the period between 1880 and 1890, and even continuously since then, substitutes for lead oxide and sulphuric acid have been attempted, these havo always been discarded, and the most efficient batteries of to-day are basically identical with thoso of Plant© and Faure, of the 19th century. Although Plantc is too long dead for us to know definitely what ho hoped to accomplish, it is certain that the.ro was no realisation in his time of the uso to which the major percentage of the batteries built would bo put. Motor-cars, radios, aeroplanes and submarines were beyond the conception of these early pioneers. Yet it is their work which has helped to make all of them possible in tho successful form in which thoy exist. The manufacture and sale of storage batteries has developed into a tremendous world-wide industry, employing many thousands of men. with millions of pounds of invested capital.

TWO LUCKY ESCAPES.

In the Gordon Bennett race of 1902, when uear Bregenz, Mr. S. F. Edge was driving at abouii 60-65 m.p.h., and the flagman on duty on tho road signalled all was clear; but when ho came round a corner he found railway gates shut in his face. He braked very hard. The car twisted round and leapt off the road down an embankment of some 40ft. in height and landed into a lot of bushes. These broke the fall to such an extent, that barring a small pipe broken, he was able quickly to get back on to tho road, go on his way and win the Gordon Bennett Cup. A second narrow escape was on Brooklands track during a double 12-hours' run on a4O h.p. car. Travelling at about 85 m.p.h. under the Members' Bridge he suddenly found that the steering was not responsive. Tho car had a tendency to dash down the bank, but ho kept going down the railway straight, all tho time wondering what had happened. Ho let the car slow down very gradually, as any sudden alteration in tho speed might have precipitated trouble. At about 60 m.p.h., or a little less, one of tho front wheels suddenly flapped round and skidded along tho track, which was luckily wet as it was raining at tho time. When ho stopped ho found tho steering arm of tho left wheel broken and the wheel perfectly free to flap anywhere it liked. How many motorists in similar circumstances would have had the senso to leave the steering alone, instead of trying to correct it ?

AUSTIN OAR OLUB

The Austin Car Club, which was formed some time ago, held its annual meeting recently. The following officers were elected for tho year:—Chairman, Mr. F. Parker; committoe, Mesdames Gaudin and Parker, Messrs. H. S. Robinson, W. Abraham, 11. H. Gaudin, S. Carr, Austin Goss, Greenhaugh, Ogilvie and Ilickson; hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss P. I). Renner. During tho past year the club held many runs and a social evening. The club will open the new season with Siother social evening on August 14, and is proposed to hold club runs at regular intervals duriig tho summer months.

Advice has been received from London that at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, hold on July 12, up a 1000 yards gradient of 1 in 9, Von Stuck, in an Austro-Daim-ler, created a record for the course in 42 4-ss. Cavacciola in a Mercedes was third in 46 4-ss, The President's Cup for the best performance by a British car, was awarded to Ilall in a, Bcntley.