Pulvermacher's Galvanic Electric Belt

[Iron Buzz]

This had me puzzled until I cleaned it enough to read it. Google then gave me the rest of the story. This is a part from a quack medicine electric belt that was popular at the end of the 19th century. The belt was made up of a chain of cells that made up a belt that gave the user a "therapeutic" electric shock.

Essentially, this was a battery... a chain of wet cells that were, I believe, activated by dipping the belt into vinegar. The piece that I found contained a bunch of thin wires and the remains of blotter paper.



You can see that piece at either end of the belt:




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulvermacher's_chain

 

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[smallfoot]

That's an unusual relic! congrats!

 

[Digger RJ]

That’s Cool!!! Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[cambria09]

Hello Iron Buzz. That is an excellent find...I love seeing quirky stuff like that. Thanks for the post and Good Luck out there. C9

 

[Trezurehunter]

That is an unusual relic find. I like it.

 

[Inspector]

Definitely a unusual find but very cool, congratulations & HH

 

[Pointman]

Very interesting find and thanks for the link.

 

[Doug from NS]

It is always great to find the weird stuff

 

[Reanm8er]

"Magic beans you say?" Great find Iron Buzz and really unique! I can only imagine the kind of burns you might get
when this thing shorted out or leaked.

 

[A2coins]

Good job on a cool find

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Awesome old medical relic, congrats!