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.

Prototype fluorescent lamp with internal structure. The glass rod inside the lamp allows for higher current levels.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Prototype fluorescent lamp with internal structure. The glass rod inside the lamp allows for higher current levels.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1965
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.12
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.12
"Sterilamp" ultraviolet lamp with mercury. A lamp used for generating ozone as an air freshener.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Sterilamp" ultraviolet lamp with mercury. A lamp used for generating ozone as an air freshener.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.11
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.11
Experimental fluorescent lamp with internal structure. A spiral glass rod allows higher current levels to be used.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental fluorescent lamp with internal structure. A spiral glass rod allows higher current levels to be used.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.14
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.14
A blue fluorescent “Mazda" lamp. Lamps of this type were used to back-light aircraft instrument panels.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
A blue fluorescent “Mazda" lamp. Lamps of this type were used to back-light aircraft instrument panels.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
1997.0387.15
accession number
1997.0387
catalog number
1997.0387.15
Experimental mercury-thallium lamp. The quartz arc-tube has a white coating on both ends to protect against the heat.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental mercury-thallium lamp. The quartz arc-tube has a white coating on both ends to protect against the heat.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.09
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.09
Most incandescent lamps were designed for general use in homes and businesses. However, some required special features for use in particular locations.
Description (Brief)
Most incandescent lamps were designed for general use in homes and businesses. However, some required special features for use in particular locations. Westinghouse engineers designed this so-called mill lamp for use in factories and other areas subject to high levels of vibration. An intricate internal support structure absorbed vibrations and kept the filament intact for the life of the lamp. Lamps of this type were later sold as rough-service lamps. The filament itself is made from the element tantalum. Invented in 1902, tantalum filament lamps sold in the U.S. until about 1910 when tungsten lamps were introduced.
Description
Westinghouse tantalum filament "mill" lamp, circa 1908. Brass medium-screw base with skirt, two glass insulators. Two drawn tantalum filaments (in series) with 12 upper, 22 center, and 10 lower copper support hooks. Crimp connectors, Siemens seal, cotton insulator. Tipped straight-sided envelope. Westinghouse label on lamp reads: “Westinghouse Tantalum [inked 223] V 50 W, patent label in stem: “The manufacturer of this lamp is licensed under patent noted on other side.” “Mar-20-94 516,800 APR-16-95 537,493 APR-28-03 726,293 AND OTHERS H.P.5036”. Stamped on base-skirt: “-PA[T Nov. 08 1]904 [Nov. 22] 1904”. “T” inked on stem, “X22 50” on press, “222- [V?]” in base. Label on top is inked: “47D3 1”.
date made
ca 1908
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2014.0058.05
accession number
2014.0058
catalog number
2014.0058.05
Type CL-2 low pressure sodium lamp. These lamps are very efficient but only give a stark yellow light.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Type CL-2 low pressure sodium lamp. These lamps are very efficient but only give a stark yellow light.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.08
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.08
"Ceramalux" high pressure sodium lamp with poly-crystalline alumina arc tube.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Ceramalux" high pressure sodium lamp with poly-crystalline alumina arc tube.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.07
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.07
Experimental fluorescent lamp. A glass rod on each stem assembly allows higher current levels and raises efficiency.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental fluorescent lamp. A glass rod on each stem assembly allows higher current levels and raises efficiency.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1958
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.13
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.13
Mazda B lamp with clear pear-shaped envelope.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Mazda B lamp with clear pear-shaped envelope.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1915
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
EM.324245
catalog number
324245
accession number
253285
"Ceramalux" high pressure sodium lamp. The clear arc tube transmits more light than regular sodium lamps.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Ceramalux" high pressure sodium lamp. The clear arc tube transmits more light than regular sodium lamps.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.05
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.05
Xenon short-arc lamp in protective case. The steel case is intended to contain shards in case the lamp explodes.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Xenon short-arc lamp in protective case. The steel case is intended to contain shards in case the lamp explodes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corporation
ID Number
2001.0084.15
accession number
2001.0084
catalog number
2001.0084.15

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