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.

Electroluminescent switch plate, rated at .2 watts. Serves as both a night-light and to help locate the switch.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Electroluminescent switch plate, rated at .2 watts. Serves as both a night-light and to help locate the switch.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1958
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.03
catalog number
1998.0005.03
accession number
1998.0005
Experimental "Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp with niobium cap arc-tube seals.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental "Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp with niobium cap arc-tube seals.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.12
catalog number
1998.0005.12
accession number
1998.0005
Experimental electroluminescent panel. This flexible panel provides low-level, diffuse light.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental electroluminescent panel. This flexible panel provides low-level, diffuse light.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1958
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.04
catalog number
1998.0005.04
accession number
1998.0005
Sylvania tungsten lamp with a coiled-coil filament.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Sylvania tungsten lamp with a coiled-coil filament.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1992.0342.31
accession number
1992.0342
catalog number
1992.0342.31
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 400 watts. Often used for street-lighting.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 400 watts. Often used for street-lighting.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.18
catalog number
1998.0005.18
accession number
1998.0005
Experimental electroluminescent panel designed for use as an automotive turn signal.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental electroluminescent panel designed for use as an automotive turn signal.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.05
catalog number
1998.0005.05
accession number
1998.0005
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 70 watts. Foils around arc tube ends are in the electrical circuit.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 70 watts. Foils around arc tube ends are in the electrical circuit.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.19
catalog number
1998.0005.19
accession number
1998.0005
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 400 watts. Often used for street-lighting.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 400 watts. Often used for street-lighting.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.14
catalog number
1998.0005.14
accession number
1998.0005
Electroluminescent lamp made for demonstration purposes, rated at 4 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Electroluminescent lamp made for demonstration purposes, rated at 4 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1958
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.02
catalog number
1998.0005.02
accession number
1998.0005
Production Fluorescent Miniature Christmas-tree lamp, Coral color, 4w. Circa 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (argon?). Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall.
Description (Brief)
Production Fluorescent Miniature Christmas-tree lamp, Coral color, 4w. Circa 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (argon?). Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall. Printed on skirt: "Sylvania Fluorescent 04 4W-120AC Coral [Sylvania Logo]". Unit operates via coronal discharge.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1946
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.01
catalog number
1998.0005.01
accession number
1998.0005
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 100 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp rated at 100 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.17
catalog number
1998.0005.17
accession number
1998.0005
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp, base-up design, rated at 150 watts. Designed for exterior lighting.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Lumalux" high pressure sodium lamp, base-up design, rated at 150 watts. Designed for exterior lighting.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
1998.0005.13
catalog number
1998.0005.13
accession number
1998.0005
Sylvania Fluorescent Christmas lamp, green, 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (neon?), wire resistance in stem. Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall.
Description (Brief)
Sylvania Fluorescent Christmas lamp, green, 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (neon?), wire resistance in stem. Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall. Printed on skirt: "Sylvania Fluorescent 08 4W-120AC Green [Sylvania "flashing S" logo] Made in U.S.A." Stamped under neutral-contact solder joint: "...[USA]...". Label found in box with lamp reads: "fluorescent Christmas Bulbs 1940's".
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.10
catalog number
2000.0224.10
accession number
2000.0224
Sylvania Fluorescent Christmas lamp, coral, 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (neon?), wire resistance in stem. Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall.
Description (Brief)
Sylvania Fluorescent Christmas lamp, coral, 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (neon?), wire resistance in stem. Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall. Printed on skirt: "Sylvania Fluorescent 10 4W-120AC Coral [Sylvania "flashing S" logo] Made in U.S.A." Stamped under neutral-contact solder joint: "...U.[S.A..]..". Note found with lamp reads: "Flashing 'S' c1948 Christmas bulb - appeared in Spotlight Winter '92".
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.14
catalog number
2000.0224.14
accession number
2000.0224
Production Fluorescent Miniature Christmas-tree lamp, blue color, 5w. Circa 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (argon?), wire resistance in stem.
Description (Brief)
Production Fluorescent Miniature Christmas-tree lamp, blue color, 5w. Circa 1946. Brass candelabra screw-base with glass insulator, plastic skirt. Two electrodes inside lamp, gas fill (argon?), wire resistance in stem. Tipless G-shape envelope with phosphor coating on inner bulb-wall. Printed on skirt: "Sylvania Fluorescent .. 5W-120AC Blue . [Sylvania "flashing S" logo]". Stamped on base shell: "[U.S.]A." Display label accompanying object reads: "1945 Christmas Tree Glow lamp." Second label reads: "Christmas tree glow lamp, 1945". Unit operates via coronal discharge.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
maker
Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
ID Number
2000.0224.09
catalog number
2000.0224.09
accession number
2000.0224

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