Antique Hero's Fountain, Near Perpetual Motion

Antique Hero's fountain, with a glass bowl and two pivoted metal water reservoirs. Late 19th century.

Heron's fountain is a hydraulic machine invented by the first century AD inventor Hero of Alexandria. Water is added to the glass bowl and a fountain is produced from the spout coming up from the centre of the bowl. Eventually the fountain stops, the position of the two metal containers are then reversed and the fountains start again.

The fountain is paradoxical in that the fountain rises above the level of the water in the basin and gives the impression of being a near perpetual motion machine.

Prop ID: 1098

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