Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Lemon battery" in English language version.
The first real improvement over the plain zinc-copper in acid cell was due to Dr. Alfred Smee, who noticed that the hydrogen gas liberated at the negative plate was evolved from it much more readily, hence polarization took place much less rapidly if the surface of this plate were roughened instead of being quite smooth; and the means he found most efficient was that of coating the silver sheet or sheets with finely divided platinum ...
The singular property possessed by amalgamated zinc of not being attacked by sulphuric acid diluted with water is due to the adhesion of hydrogen on the plate in the acid solution
Formerly, a galvanic battery was a stupendous, and an expensive, machine occupying a large space and costing a considerable sum to keep it in its short-lived action. Now, a far more powerful instrument may be made in a snuff box and carried in the pocket. These remarks are forced upon us by the astonishing platinum batteries of Mr. Grove, and the chemico-mechanical batteries invented by Mr. Smee ...
Of the application of this cell a very important modification can be arranged, by converting it into an ACID battery, analogous to the platinized silver of Mr. Smee. Those who are acquainted with the ingenious device of that gentleman, are aware that the characteristic of his arrangement is, that the negative plate, where hydrogen is released, shall part with this hydrogen very readily. Under ordinary circumstances, the hydrogen adheres very much to the plates of an acid battery, and throws a considerable portion of the plates out of the action, by its presence on their surfaces. To remedy this, he has, as he terms it, "platinized" the surfaces.
In 1840 Smee invented a battery which made electrotyping possible commercially. ... Perhaps one of the greatest forward steps in connection with electrotyping was made when the plating dynamo was invented. The first adoption of a dynamo, in place of the Smee type of battery, was by Leslie, of New York, in 1872.Primer for apprentices in the printing industry. Good short introduction to the history of electrotyping.
The Smee cell is the cell most commonly employed because of its extreme simplicity of construction and management.A detailed discussion of the construction and maintenance of Smee cells, c. 1874.
Some extremely important commissions were made in electrotypes, such as the "bronzes" that adorn the Opera, Paris, and the 320 cm high statue of Prince Albert and four accompanying figures, erected behind the Albert Hall in London as a memorial to the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The singular property possessed by amalgamated zinc of not being attacked by sulphuric acid diluted with water is due to the adhesion of hydrogen on the plate in the acid solution
