While researching the Leyden jar, I found these instructions for constructing a Leyden jar out of common household materials. The instructions were originally published in 1895.
The Leyden Jar
By the Leyden jar alone can the electricity generated by the machine be stored for the numerous experiments and for imparting shocks. A small jar may be made from an ordinary thin glass tumbler of the largest size, but it a larger jar is desired, a glass bottle or jar with a neck sufficiently wide to admit the hand must be used. Such jars are easily procured. Take the tumbler or jar and paste tinfoil inside it, covering the bottom and extending about three-quarters up its height; when this has been done, paste tinfoil on the outside, covering the surface as has been covered on the inside. When the paste has become perfectly dry, trim the upper edges of the tinfoil with a knife, scraping away all the irregularities, and clean the uncovered glass thoroughly.
Now make a lid for the tumbler or jar, so as to fit it. This is best made by being turned out of a piece of three-quarter-inch thick hardwood, but it can be cut with a knife out of two quarter-inch pieces, one a little larger than the outside of the tumbler or neck of the jar, and the other made to fit inside the tumble or neck. When these pieces are glued together they will form a sufficient lid. Bore a hole through the center of the lid to receive a stout brass wire, about six inches long, having a brass or lead ball at its upper end, and a short piece of brass chain tied with wire to its lower end. When the lid is put in place the chain must touch the tinfoil at the bottom.
To use the jar, place it so that its ball is close to the ball of the collector or conductor of the electrical machine, and turn the handle. Sparks will be seen to pass from one ball to another until the Leyden jar will refuse to receive more. At this stage it is charged with electricity. Now if a person touches the outside coating of tinfoil with one hand and the ball with the other, he will receive an electric shock. If a string of ten or twenty boys is formed, by joining hands, and the left-hand boy touches the tinfoil of the jar, while the right-hand boy places his finger on the ball, the entire string of boys experiences a shock in the arms. Such a harmless experiment causes great fun in a gathering of young people.
Source: The climax. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.), 03 July 1895.
