1860 Matthews Spring-Motor Magneto Electric Machine w/ Fusee Regulated Clockwork

Description

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Here's an early and very uncommon magneto electric machine manufactured in London ca. 1860 by W. Matthews. I've had this apparatus listed on my TechnoGallerie website for the past several months at a fixed price and am now moving it over to eBay as a no- reserve auction with a .95 opening bid. The highest bid placed is what it will sell for.
Unlike conventional magneto-electric machines made between 1855 and 1890 — which relied on
direct
hand power to generate electricity (as the operator wound the crank, the magneto coils would spin) — the Matthews machine used a spring motor coupled to a fusee assembly. Like a fusee clock, the spring motor stored energy, whose torque could be regulated by the fusee, allowing the instrument to be used hands free, with the fusee maintaining constant rotational speed of the coils spinning above the horseshow magnet.  As the motor wound down, and its torque decreased, the conical-shaped fusee would compensate by gradually changing the ratio between the spring barrel’s diameter and that of the fusee — not unlike the gears on a contemporary 15-speed bike or inside an automotive transmission.
This Matthews Magneto, perhaps the only surviving example, is original throughout but will require some level of restoration in order to be operable.  Everything  moves freely, the horseshoe magnet is still viable, and the instrument appears to be complete (except for the electrode handles), but the mainspring and fusee drive string are both broken. Please review the pictures carefully and consider them an integral part of the description.
The machine is being offered for historical purposes only, with no assurances stated or implied that it's still suitable for operation.
Cabinet, closed, measures approximately 11" x 5" x 5".  Shipping weight, properly packaged, will be about 15 lb.
That's about it.  I will pack it carefully. I've been shipping antique phonographs and wireless sets for years, and I know how to get fragile antiques to you safely. Auction participants with no prior feedback history should also contact me before placing a bid.  Buyer prepays and includes shipping.  Paypal okay.