Wimshursts work quite differently to van de graaff machines, doesn't work on friction, but rather by clever use of em fields and the charge of electrons. I think. I won my schools science award last year (for getting a C in physics at A level lol, best grade anyone got in any science subject, shows how good my school is ey?), and there was a trophy that was a wimshurst machine with an engraving on it. However, it's rather old now and has seen better days, no longer works and needs repairing in quite a few ways, which I intend on doing before giving it back, I want to give at least one person an electric shock 😛 From what I've read they can quite picky about the conditions they're in, give it another go tmrow and see if it's workin.