PIONEERING WORK ON GAS-LIGHTING

ACCUM, FRIEDRICH.

Praktische Abhandlung über das Gaslicht, eine vollständige Beschreibung des Apparats und der Maschinerie, um Straßen, Häuser und Manufacturen damit zu beleuchten, enthaltend.

Weimar, Landes-Industrie-Comptoir 1816.

8vo. In contemporary half calf with gilt lettering to spine. Light wear to extremities and previous owner's name to lower part of title-page. Internally very fine and clean. VIII, (2), 202 pp. + 9 folded plates. 


The important uncommon first German translation of Accum’s influential work on gaslight. “Originally published in English in two editions the previous year (London, 1815), this German translation is valuable for the extensive additional footnotes and commentary by Lampadius”(Neville, vol 1. P. 9).

“The value of Accum’s work lies in the way he saw and exploited the technological possibilities of rapidly advancing science of chemistry. His activities as lecturer, author, laboratory instructor, merchant, consultant, and technical adviser epitomize the opportunities that the industrial revolution opened to the emerging class of professional chemists. His pioneer work on gas-lighting and food adulteration was of fundamental importance.

Accum was intimately concerned with the application of F. A. Winsor’s 1804 patent of a gas-lighting process. He undertook the experimental work necessary to overcome the complaints of Winsor’s rival William Murdoch and the scruples of Parliamentary committees. As a result his name appeared as “practical chemist” on the 1812 list of the first Corporation of London’s highly successful Gas-Light and Coke Company. Profiting from his experience. Accum advised other fledgling gas companies and wrote the 1815 treatise that became the classic text of gas technology.” (DSB) 

Order-nr.: 60147

DKK 4.500,00