Radiometro di Crookes in vetro soffiato - Working tool

Large Crookes Radiometer in blown glass – 1970s – Height 48 cm – Fully functional

Splendid and dramatic Large Crookes Radiometer, made of transparent blown glass with an elegant three-bulb stacked structure. A scientific and decorative object of great charm, dating from the 1970s, ideal for collectors, enthusiasts of vintage scientific instruments, or as a refined interior decor element.

The piece is presented in excellent condition: the glass is intact, without breakage or cracks, and the internal palettes are all present and perfectly preserved. The radiometer is fully operational.

Features:

* Era: 1970s
* Material: blown glass
* Height: 48 cm
* Conditions: well preserved, no breakage
* Internal blades complete and intact
* Fully functional

What is the Crookes Radiometer?

Invented in 1873 by the English physicist Sir William Crookes, the radiometer is a scientific instrument consisting of a glass bulb that is almost completely evacuated of air, inside which light, lightweight vanes mounted on a spindle rotate.

Each vane has a black side and a silver side. When the radiometer is exposed to light or to a heat source, the vanes begin to rotate spontaneously. The black side absorbs more light energy and heats up more than the shiny side; the few gas molecules still present inside the bulb transfer a greater push to the hot side, setting the vanes in motion. The more intense the light, the faster the rotation.

This magnificent specimen, thanks to its substantial size (48 cm in height), offers a spectacular visual effect during operation, proving far more dramatic than ordinary desktop radiometers.

A piece of great elegance that unites science, design, and glassmaking artistry, perfect to enrich a collection or to become an original decor element capable of attracting attention and arousing curiosity.