November 28, 1857
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmImproved Diving Bell
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Mr. Maillefert, of this city, has invented an improved diving bell which he calls an Eeros-tatic tubular one; it is composed of an ordinary bell having in addition an outer case which can be filled with air to raise it, and a long tube from the bell, having ladders inside and shutters so arranged that the workmen can ascend and descend without the necessity of bringing up the bell each time, as the tube projects above the surface of tne water. An experiment was tried with it at Hunter's Point, L. I., in eighteen feet depth. As soon as the bell had been lowered, the men descended by the tube and remained in it five hours; they then ascended for dinner, and afterwards went down again and remained another five hours, working all the time on the submarine railroad track. They could hear distinctly all that was said on shore 150 feet distant, and were much satisfied with the experiment. Sufficient light passes down the tube to enable them to see how to work.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
