The uses of reworking historical experiments: the case of Coulomb’s torsion balance and electrical theory.

The article presents a review of very recent investigations centred on Coulomb's famous determination of the electrostatic law now bearing his name by means of his newly invented torsion balance. The recent problematic attempts of Peter Heering to replicate Coulomb's experiments are discussed together with the reactions and views expressed by Christine Blandel, Christian Licoppe and John L. Heilbron. Some views are expressed on stages and methods of the replication which possible make the experiment difficult to reproduce with a modern reconstructed torsion balance.