Thursday March 29, 1894

Trials of the gas engine which would not work satisfactorily. After examining the gas supply (which was found satisfactory) easing & lubricating the bearings & it was got into good working order by Saturday morning. The accumulator cells were filled on Friday morning & partly charged, though the engine did not then run properly.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... Gas lighting had first been installed at the Observatory way back in 1851, when George Airy was Astronomer Royal, although it had recently (1893) been replaced with electric lighting.