What is it ??????

[Yeti]

I found these blown vials in 1880's barn. They are sealed glass vials with a color liquid in the bottom half. When you hold it in your hand, the heat from from hand makes the liquid siphon up the middle to the top bubble. then the liquid starts to bubble like it is boiling.

 

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[Ed-NH]

No idea but totally cool find!

 

[AOSDC]

Parts to a galileo thermometer

 

[mws53]

Could be...

Temperature indicators. The difference in the liquid means they react at different temperatures. Could have been put into a pan of liquid that was to be heated and indicated how hot the liquid in the pan was. Just a guess.

 

[TheSleeper]

Sure look like some of those 1970 mood charms we used to have >> lava lights and such.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Looks like those things we used to make to create "tornados' ....give it a swirl and presto....tornado!

 

[Mainedigger]

I think they are in fact thermometers of some sort, where they were found in a barn, maybe something to do with homogenizing or pasteurizing milk or whatever they did to it back then other than drinking it as it came out of the cow?

 

[MiddenMonster]

I found these blown vials in 1880's barn. They are sealed glass vials with a color liquid in the bottom half. When you hold it in your hand, the heat from from hand makes the liquid siphon up the middle to the top bubble. then the liquid starts to bubble like it is boiling.

They are hand boilers:

http://chemmovies.unl.edu/chemistry/beckerdemos/BD055.html
"An ethanol filled novelty device called a "hand boiler" consists of two blown glass bulbs connected by a glass tube with various loops. Several properties of vapor pressure are studied with this apparatus. Most remarkably, ethanol can be separated by distillation leaving a concentrated dye powder behind. This distillation is completely self-contained inside the apparatus, and driven by the heat of your hand! Students can feel, quite dramatically, the energy of evaporation by holding the bulb during the distillation."

Click the link in the middle of the page at the above link to see one in action.

 

[Yeti]

Thanks everyone

 

[PBK]

They are hand boilers:

Nice work, MM!

 

[MiddenMonster]

Re: Thanks everyone

The link I provided (http://chemmovies.unl.edu/chemistry/beckerdemos/BD055.html) also lists several experiments you can do with a hand boiler. If you have kids the hand boilers should have lots of educational and entertainment value. If you check out the page and do the experiments post back and let us know if you were able to get them to leave the dye powder in the bottom chamber. It's been since I was a kid that I have seen them, and I don't recall ever seeing that happen. And if you like freaky science stuff, I can tell you how to make a couple of cool fake UFOs that will definitely freak people out. 8) 8)

 

[relic lover]

Yes my old science teacher had one, that was in the 1970s

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

I found these blown vials in 1880's barn. They are sealed glass vials with a color liquid in the bottom half. When you hold it in your hand, the heat from from hand makes the liquid siphon up the middle to the top bubble. then the liquid starts to bubble like it is boiling.

They are hand boilers:

http://chemmovies.unl.edu/chemistry/beckerdemos/BD055.html
"An ethanol filled novelty device called a "hand boiler" consists of two blown glass bulbs connected by a glass tube with various loops. Several properties of vapor pressure are studied with this apparatus. Most remarkably, ethanol can be separated by distillation leaving a concentrated dye powder behind. This distillation is completely self-contained inside the apparatus, and driven by the heat of your hand! Students can feel, quite dramatically, the energy of evaporation by holding the bulb during the distillation."

Click the link in the middle of the page at the above link to see one in action.

I was gonna say that.....really. I was......right after I figured out what it was.....

Laater...

 

[deep6]

I used to see these as prizes at the Louisiana State Fair back in the 70's when I was a kid. I don't think too much emphasis was put on their educational virtues. Looked pretty cool along with the Jimi Hendrix mirrors and purple feather roachclips for sure. I think they were touted as "Love Meters".