Its inventor actually copied two earlier designs, a 1785 one by Rouland and a more effective 1893 one by Von Busch.  
Its inventor actually copied two earlier designs, a 1785 one by Rouland and a more effective 1893 one by Von Busch.  It was originally referred to as the "tin can" because the collecting terminal was in fact a tin can.  The original one employed a pure silk ribbon driven by a small motor, though rubber is now used in place of silk and sometimes two pulleys are employed to keep the belt moving.  Particles can be accelerated to as much as ten million volts in this structure characterized by the large spherical electrode.  Named for its American discoverer, FTP, identify this type of electrostatic generator.
Its inventor actually copied two earlier designs, a 1785 one by Rouland and a more effective 1893 one by Von Busch.  
Van de Graaff Generator