Energy & Power

The Museum's collections on energy and power illuminate the role of fire, steam, wind, water, electricity, and the atom in the nation's history. The artifacts include wood-burning stoves, water turbines, and windmills, as well as steam, gas, and diesel engines. Oil-exploration and coal-mining equipment form part of these collections, along with a computer that controlled a power plant and even bubble chambers—a tool of physicists to study protons, electrons, and other charged particles.

A special strength of the collections lies in objects related to the history of electrical power, including generators, batteries, cables, transformers, and early photovoltaic cells. A group of Thomas Edison's earliest light bulbs are a precious treasure. Hundreds of other objects represent the innumerable uses of electricity, from streetlights and railway signals to microwave ovens and satellite equipment.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1894
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181698
catalog number
181698
accession number
33184
maker number
9172
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Cables are designed for many different applications, for example, indoor or outdoor use.
Description (Brief)
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Cables are designed for many different applications, for example, indoor or outdoor use. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “300,000 [circular mil] cable, [having] the braids saturated with bituminous compound. These cables are intended for overhead wiring."
date made
1897
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181714
catalog number
181714
accession number
33184
maker number
673
Ships’ steam whistles were powered by steam lines from the boilers. They were used to signal other ships or the shore, to announce a vessel’s presence or its intentions.
Description
Ships’ steam whistles were powered by steam lines from the boilers. They were used to signal other ships or the shore, to announce a vessel’s presence or its intentions. Whistles were especially useful when approaching or leaving a port or landing, or in foggy or dark waters.
This whistle originally belonged to the 1895 Army Corps of Engineers towboat Gen. H. L. Abbot, built at Jeffersonville, Ind. and named after a famous general in the U. S. Army Corps. In 1906 it was renamed Gen. J. H. Simpson, after another Army Corps staff. The vessel was dismantled in 1919.
The cabin fittings, the ship’s wheel, and the whistle were purchased by Edward Heckmann for his new Missouri River packet boat, the John Heckmann. The Heckmann was 165’ long and 30’-6” in beam but only drew 4’-6” of water. Uniquely, the Heckmann had two independently operated or “split” sternwheels, which provided much greater maneuverability than a single, wide sternwheel could offer. Its boilers came from the hulk of the steamer Majestic, which had wrecked in 1914 at Chain of Rocks, St. Louis. The Heckmann’s engines were acquired from the obsolete Army Corps sternwheel towboats Aux Vasse and Isle de Bois. Employed in the packet trade between St Louis and Jefferson City, the Heckmann lost money because of competition from the railroads.
The John Heckmann was later converted to a Missouri River 1,200-passenger excursion boat by the Heckmann family. Operating on the Missouri as far north as Sioux City, Iowa, its normal summer route was between Kansas City and Omaha, Nebraska. In winter, it resumed packet service on the Cumberland, Tennessee, Illinois, and Ohio Rivers. Wrecked in an ice breakup at its homeport of Hermann, Mo. in 1928, it was dismantled.
date made
1895
purchased whistle
Heckmann, Edward
ID Number
1979.0542.01
accession number
1979.0542
catalog number
1979.0542.01
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Modern cables inherit the lessons learned during more than a century of research and experience.
Description (Brief)
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Modern cables inherit the lessons learned during more than a century of research and experience. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “1,000,000 [circular mil] cable composed of 59 wires, each .1305" in diameter, containing two insulated pressure wires each 2500 C.M. area, the whole insulated with saturated paper 5/32" thick and finished with lead 1/8" thick. This is a feeder cable for circuits not exceeding 2000 volts working pressure on Edison three wire circuits. An outside jacket of tarred jute and asphalt [prevents] corrosion."
date made
1897
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181708
catalog number
181708
accession number
33184
maker number
1
Aqua - Large base chips - St. Paul Gas Light Company - 12/28/1900 - Converse - Used on St. Croix Power Company's high tension line, November, 1900, (Wisconsin). See Transactions of American Institute of Electrical Engineers, November 23, 1900. "Provo" type. 25000 volts.
Description (Brief)
Aqua - Large base chips - St. Paul Gas Light Company - 12/28/1900 - Converse - Used on St. Croix Power Company's high tension line, November, 1900, (Wisconsin). See Transactions of American Institute of Electrical Engineers, November 23, 1900. "Provo" type. 25000 volts. Same as used in Utah to carry 40,000 v.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1895
ca 1900
maker
Hemingray Glass Company
ID Number
EM.209183
catalog number
209183
accession number
37405
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1894
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181699
accession number
33184
catalog number
181699
maker number
6580
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Modern cables inherit the lessons learned during more than a century of research and experience.
Description (Brief)
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Modern cables inherit the lessons learned during more than a century of research and experience. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “1,000,000 [circular mil] cable composed of 59 wires, each .1305" in diameter, containing two insulated pressure wires each 2500 C.M. area, the whole insulated with saturated paper 5/32" thick and finished with lead 1/8" thick. This is a feeder cable for circuits not exceeding 2000 volts working pressure on Edison three wire circuits."
date made
1897
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181706
catalog number
181706
accession number
33184
maker number
345
Incandescent lamp with United States base and cellulose filament. Envelope made of milk-glass.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Incandescent lamp with United States base and cellulose filament. Envelope made of milk-glass.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Weston
Weston Electric Light Co.
ID Number
EM.311920
catalog number
311920
accession number
156658
This is an Edison carbon lamp with Thomson-Houston base and asphalt-coated filament that was developed around 1891. The lamp's base differed depending on the manufacturer of the lamp.
Description (Brief)
This is an Edison carbon lamp with Thomson-Houston base and asphalt-coated filament that was developed around 1891. The lamp's base differed depending on the manufacturer of the lamp. Edison, Westinghouse, Thomson-Houston and other makers devised differing ways to attach a lamp to a fixture. Companies quickly began making adapters or, as in this case, making their own lamps with competitors’ bases.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1891
maker
Edison General Electric Company
ID Number
1997.0388.57
catalog number
1997.0388.57
accession number
1997.0388
"Duplex" carbon lamp with Thompson-Houston base. Two filaments, one always on and the base hook lights the other.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Duplex" carbon lamp with Thompson-Houston base. Two filaments, one always on and the base hook lights the other.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1898
maker
Fostoria Incandescent Lamp Company
ID Number
1997.0388.86
catalog number
1997.0388.86
accession number
1997.0388
patent number
586275
“New Type Edison" lamp. A typical commercial incandescent lamp of the early 1890s, rated at 100 candle-power.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
“New Type Edison" lamp. A typical commercial incandescent lamp of the early 1890s, rated at 100 candle-power.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Edison Lamp Company
ID Number
EM.181823
catalog number
181823
accession number
33407
Crawford-Voelker lamp with titanium-carbide filament and U-shape envelope. Invented by William Lawrence Voelker.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Crawford-Voelker lamp with titanium-carbide filament and U-shape envelope. Invented by William Lawrence Voelker.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1895
date made
ca 1901
maker
Crawford-Voelker Laboratory
ID Number
1997.0388.59
catalog number
1997.0388.59
accession number
1997.0388
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1894
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181696
catalog number
181696
accession number
33184
maker number
16822
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Cables are designed for many different applications, for example, indoor or outdoor use.
Description (Brief)
The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Cables are designed for many different applications, for example, indoor or outdoor use. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “500,000 [circular mil] cable, 3/32" rubber insulation, braided. [This cable is] for general use in interior wiring."
date made
1897
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181711
catalog number
181711
accession number
33184
maker number
670
Carbon lamp with Truit-style base and two cellulose filaments connected in parallel.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Carbon lamp with Truit-style base and two cellulose filaments connected in parallel.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1895
ID Number
1997.0388.58
catalog number
1997.0388.58
accession number
1997.0388
"Y-Ray" carbon lamp with Thomson-Houston base. Double-arch cellulose filament.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Y-Ray" carbon lamp with Thomson-Houston base. Double-arch cellulose filament.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1898
ca 1898
maker
Shelby Electric Company
ID Number
2000.0224.06
catalog number
2000.0224.06
accession number
2000.0224
Westinghouse made stopper lamps to avoid infringing Edison's patents. The lamp is based on Sawyer-Man patents and includes a removable adapter to allow use of the lamp in both the special sockets made for stopper lamps and standard Westinghouse sockets.
Description (Brief)
Westinghouse made stopper lamps to avoid infringing Edison's patents. The lamp is based on Sawyer-Man patents and includes a removable adapter to allow use of the lamp in both the special sockets made for stopper lamps and standard Westinghouse sockets.
date made
ca 1894
Maker
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
ID Number
1997.0388.81
catalog number
1997.0388.81
accession number
1997.0388
Experimental carbon filament lamp with electrode. This may be an Edison-effect lamp, forerunner to the radio tube.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental carbon filament lamp with electrode. This may be an Edison-effect lamp, forerunner to the radio tube.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1895
ID Number
1997.0388.65
catalog number
1997.0388.65
accession number
1997.0388
Scotsman Alexander McDougall (1845-1924) was a ship captain on the Great Lakes when he patented the idea of a “whaleback” ship in the early 1880s. With low, rounded hulls, decks and deckhouses, his invention minimized water and wind resistance.
Description
Scotsman Alexander McDougall (1845-1924) was a ship captain on the Great Lakes when he patented the idea of a “whaleback” ship in the early 1880s. With low, rounded hulls, decks and deckhouses, his invention minimized water and wind resistance. Between 1887 and 1898, 44 whalebacks were produced: 23 were barges and 21 were steamships, including one passenger vessel.
Frank Rockefeller was the 36th example of the type, built in 1896 at a cost of $181,573.38 at McDougall’s American Steel Barge Company in Superior, WI. One of the larger examples of the type, Rockefeller measured 380 feet in length, drew 26 feet of water depth and had a single propeller.
Although it belonged to several different owners over its 73-year working life, the Rockefeller spent most of its early life transporting iron ore from mines in Lake Superior to steel mills along the shores of Lake Erie. In 1927, new owners put it in service as a sand dredge that hauled landfill sand for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. From 1936-1942 the old ship saw service as a car carrier for another set of owners. In 1942 the ship wrecked in Lake Michigan, but wartime demand for shipping gave the old ship repairs, a new name (Meteor) and a new life as a tanker transporting petroleum products for more than 25 years. In 1969 Meteor ran aground off the Michigan coast, Instead of repairing the old ship, the owners sold it for a museum ship at Superior, WI. In poor condition today, Meteor is the last surviving example of McDougal’s whaleback or “pig boat”.
Date made
1961
date the Frank Rockefeller was built
1896
patentee of whaleback ships
McDougall, Alexander
company that built the Frank Rockefeller
American Steel Barge Company
ID Number
TR.318433
catalog number
318433
accession number
236171
Typical carbon filament lamp from the late 1800s made with a Thomson-Houston Company base.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Typical carbon filament lamp from the late 1800s made with a Thomson-Houston Company base.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1895
ca. 1895
maker
Thomson-Houston Electric Company
ID Number
EM.333032
accession number
294351
catalog number
333032
“New Type Edison" lamp. A typical commercial incandescent lamp of the late 1890s, made for 220 volt service.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
“New Type Edison" lamp. A typical commercial incandescent lamp of the late 1890s, made for 220 volt service.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1899
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.181816
catalog number
181816
accession number
33407
Carbon filament lamp with tipless envelope. Exhausted through bottom. The leads exit through envelope sides.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Carbon filament lamp with tipless envelope. Exhausted through bottom. The leads exit through envelope sides.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1895
maker
Adams-Bagnall Electric Co.
ID Number
1997.0388.64
catalog number
1997.0388.64
accession number
1997.0388
Carbon lamp. A typical commercial incandescent lamp of the early 1890s.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Carbon lamp. A typical commercial incandescent lamp of the early 1890s.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1892
ID Number
EM.181812
catalog number
181812
accession number
33407

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