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.

Type R4429 xenon flash lamp for airport. Unit produces short flashes of very bright light.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Type R4429 xenon flash lamp for airport. Unit produces short flashes of very bright light.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.03
catalog number
2000.0224.03
accession number
2000.0224
Tungsten filament lamp with decorative GT-style envelope.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Tungsten filament lamp with decorative GT-style envelope.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1963
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.13
catalog number
2000.0224.13
accession number
2000.0224
Type PAR40 automotive metal halide headlamp. Intended to replace tungsten lamps in automotive use.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Type PAR40 automotive metal halide headlamp. Intended to replace tungsten lamps in automotive use.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1969
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.07
catalog number
2000.0224.07
accession number
2000.0224
"Brite-Arc" short arc lamp rated at 2500 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Brite-Arc" short arc lamp rated at 2500 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.11
catalog number
1998.0005.11
accession number
1998.0005
Experimental single-ended metal halide lamp. For projection use.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental single-ended metal halide lamp. For projection use.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.26
catalog number
1998.0005.26
accession number
1998.0005
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 250 watts for base-down use. Foil wraps around end-seals.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 250 watts for base-down use. Foil wraps around end-seals.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.15
catalog number
1998.0005.15
accession number
1998.0005
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 1000 watts. Used for lighting large outdoor areas.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 1000 watts. Used for lighting large outdoor areas.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.16
catalog number
1998.0005.16
accession number
1998.0005
Type PAR60 infrared spot lamp. A tungsten halogen lamp with a dichroic filter that only transmits infrared light.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Type PAR60 infrared spot lamp. A tungsten halogen lamp with a dichroic filter that only transmits infrared light.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1984
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.08
catalog number
2000.0224.08
accession number
2000.0224
Experimental type “DNE” projection lamp.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental type “DNE” projection lamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.06
catalog number
1998.0005.06
accession number
1998.0005
Linear fluorescent lamp for photo-copier. The clear strip along the lamp’s length is the aperture.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Linear fluorescent lamp for photo-copier. The clear strip along the lamp’s length is the aperture.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1963
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.11
catalog number
2000.0224.11
accession number
2000.0224
Type PAR48 heat lamp. Two coiled tungsten filaments in parallel. Envelope has gold reflective coating on inner wall.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Type PAR48 heat lamp. Two coiled tungsten filaments in parallel. Envelope has gold reflective coating on inner wall.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1963
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.05
catalog number
2000.0224.05
accession number
2000.0224
A type 500Q tungsten halogen lamp in original package with a frosted envelope.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
A type 500Q tungsten halogen lamp in original package with a frosted envelope.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
GTE Sylvania, Inc.
ID Number
1997.0387.09
accession number
1997.0387
catalog number
1997.0387.09

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.