Van Marum machine

In 1785, a large double-disked electromechanical instrument was designed by Dutch physicist, Martin van Marum, and built for the Teylers Museum in Haarlem, where he was the curator. The van Marum machine, signed with the name Fortin, is part of the collection on display at the École Polytechnique Museum. Fortin was a manufacturer of scientific and precision instruments, whose devices were used by Lavoisier for his air experiments. The van Marum machine consists of a circular glass disk, which can rotate about a horizontal axis, between four insulated cushions mounted on glass feet.