Megan Reyna
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editKinnersley was one of the premier showmen of electricity in British America from 1749-1774. His lectures of electrical phenomena were not simply displaying natural phenomena, but instead were interactive demonstrations that utilized audience participation. In doing so, audience members were able to have an embodied experience with electricity, heightening their own understanding of the sensations described. They could witness the attraction between positive and negative forces, charged coins flying a participant’s mouth with the help of an electrical discharge, or even a spark created from their finger.
Kinnersley described these mechanical shows as” a diverting Experiment, which cannot be well understood, but by those who try it.” These demonstrations did not come without a price – admission typically costing about five shillings a person, well above a day’s worth of work for most laborers of the mid-eighteenth century. Nevertheless, individuals of persons of all socioeconomic classes were drawn to such curious displays, Kinnersley’s advertisements touting exhibitions of wonder and spectacular displays. Kinnersley toured as an itinerant across British America, taking his displays to colleges, courthouses and coffee houses.
These spectacles of electricity were not intended only to teach, but also to entertain Kinnersley’s audience. With the rise of bourgeoises consumer culture and subsequently the increased desire for leisure activities, there was opportunity to capitalize on these electrical demonstrations for profit. In this way, Kinnersley’s shows served as a basis for similar scientists to promote their and further understanding of their practices to the masses.
The electrical spectacle further integrated into American life as a result of Kinnersley’s ability to effectively integrate religious life into the call for reason and desire for enlightenment. His demonstrations claimed to display the active power of God’s laws in order to highlight nature’s rationality. Kinnersley and other demonstrators acknowledged their limitations for understanding God’s metaphysical underworking’s of the phenomena they showed.
Paris Electrical Exhibition of 1881 The Times reported a few electrical accidents that resulted in fires. Though noting that such incidents aroused some alarm at the exhibition, the editorial sought to play down the events in effort to preserve the competence of the event. After about at least five electrical fires they were no longer able to directly discuss the danger of electricity when not properly demonstrated or attended to.
Crystal Palace Electrical Exhibition
In 1882, following the electrical accidents of the Paris Electrical Exhibition of 1881, there was a desire to utilize the electrical exhibition of the Crystal Palace to redeem the public’s conception of electricity as safe, reliable and economical. This was not without some initial fear that the dangers of electricity would follow, the exhibition opening nearly a month behind schedule to ensure that safety precautions were taken.
The British Edison Company took a special interest in gaining the trust of Palace visitors, as they would have a great commercial benefit if it were to be achieved. The Edison Company notably displayed a miniature version of its entire distribution system within the Crystal Palace. Additionally, they pushed the use of low-voltage incandescent lights as a low hazard.
During the exhibition there were no reported electrical accidents, to the success of the technology’s proponents. Further, the Times featured Edison’s novel displays as a marvelous part of the Palace exhibition and featuring two images of the displays out of eight total included from the Palace exhibits. This also contributed to the success of the exhibition to restore some confidence in electrical technologies and their safety in practice.
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If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me on my talk page. Elysia (Wiki Ed) (talk) 21:42, 24 January 2020 (UTC)