The two German philosophers who accomplished most at this time were Christian August Hansen and George Matthias Bose, both professors in Leipsic.

Both seem to have conceived the idea, simultaneously and independently, of generating electricity by revolving globes run by belt and wheel in much the same manner as the apparatus of Hauksbee.
With such machines it was possible to generate a much greater amount of electricity than Dufay had been able to do with the rubbed tube, and so equipped, the two German professors were able to generate electric sparks and jets of fire in a most startling manner.

Bose in particular had a love for the spectacular, which he turned to account with his new electrical machine upon many occasions.

On one of these occasions he prepared an elaborate dinner, to which a large number of distinguished guests were invited.

Before the arrival of the company, however, Bose insulated the great banquet-table on cakes of pitch, and then connected it with a huge electrical machine concealed in another room.