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.

Experimental tungsten lamp with mercury pool. This lamp’s purpose is unclear but it appears similar early sunlamps.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental tungsten lamp with mercury pool. This lamp’s purpose is unclear but it appears similar early sunlamps.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0388.62
catalog number
1997.0388.62
accession number
1997.0388
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1972
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.02
catalog number
1996.0082.02
accession number
1996.0082
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1972
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.03
catalog number
1996.0082.03
accession number
1996.0082
An experimental 10,000 watt stage and studio lamp with a hydrogen-bromine fill gas.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
An experimental 10,000 watt stage and studio lamp with a hydrogen-bromine fill gas.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.06
catalog number
1996.0082.06
accession number
1996.0082
Typical GE metal Halide lamp for outdoor use.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Typical GE metal Halide lamp for outdoor use.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985-04
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1992.0553.10
catalog number
1992.0553.10
accession number
1992.0553
Production model PLG41E2 compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 60 watt incandescent lamp.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production model PLG41E2 compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 60 watt incandescent lamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1992
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0357.04
accession number
1996.0357
catalog number
1996.0357.04
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1972
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.04
catalog number
1996.0082.04
accession number
1996.0082
Experimental lamp made by co-inventor Edward Zubler.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental lamp made by co-inventor Edward Zubler.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.07
catalog number
1996.0082.07
accession number
1996.0082
Assortment of tungsten halogen lamps assembled by co-inventor Edward Zubler for use in lectures.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Assortment of tungsten halogen lamps assembled by co-inventor Edward Zubler for use in lectures.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.08
catalog number
1996.0082.08
accession number
1996.0082
Experimental "Genura" electrodeless compact fluorescent lamp. Envelope and electronics module are in two parts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental "Genura" electrodeless compact fluorescent lamp. Envelope and electronics module are in two parts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1994
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1998.0050.10
accession number
1998.0050
catalog number
1998.0050.10
GE fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp in a typical fixture.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
GE fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp in a typical fixture.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1978
ca 1980
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1992.0553.07
catalog number
1992.0553.07
accession number
1992.0553
Hammered molybdenum foil leads with tungsten electrodes mounted to the foils for use as arc lamp electrode.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Hammered molybdenum foil leads with tungsten electrodes mounted to the foils for use as arc lamp electrode.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1965
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0147.46
catalog number
1996.0147.46
accession number
1996.0147
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental LEAP (Linear Exhaust And Processing) tungsten halogen lamp for a production method that used a laser.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1972
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.01
catalog number
1996.0082.01
accession number
1996.0082
A reproduction of Charles Steinmetz’s 1912 mercury vapor lamp made for defense of U.S. patent 3,234,421.
Description (Brief)
A reproduction of Charles Steinmetz’s 1912 mercury vapor lamp made for defense of U.S. patent 3,234,421.
date made
1965
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0084.02
catalog number
1996.0084.02
accession number
1996.0084
Experimental lamp made by co-inventor Edward Zubler.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental lamp made by co-inventor Edward Zubler.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
maker
General Electric Lighting Company
ID Number
1996.0082.05
catalog number
1996.0082.05
accession number
1996.0082

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