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.

Production low pressure sodium (LPS) lamp in original package. LPS lamps are the most energy-efficient lamps sold.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production low pressure sodium (LPS) lamp in original package. LPS lamps are the most energy-efficient lamps sold.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.05
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.05
This fluorescent lamp was made with only one-half of the tube coated as a demonstration.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This fluorescent lamp was made with only one-half of the tube coated as a demonstration.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1995
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.42
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.42
"IQ Back-Up" incandescent lamp with a second filament that lights (at a low level) when the main filament fails.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"IQ Back-Up" incandescent lamp with a second filament that lights (at a low level) when the main filament fails.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1995
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.13
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.13
Tungsten halogen floodlamp in original package. This lamp replaces an ordinary incandescent floodlamp.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Tungsten halogen floodlamp in original package. This lamp replaces an ordinary incandescent floodlamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1994
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.22
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.22
"Colortone" incandescent lamp in original package with both Philips and Westinghouse markings. 25 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Colortone" incandescent lamp in original package with both Philips and Westinghouse markings. 25 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.19
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.19
Introducing a new product involves more than just crafting an advertising campaign aimed at consumers. A company must also convince potential distributors (both wholesale and retail) to stock the product.
Description
Introducing a new product involves more than just crafting an advertising campaign aimed at consumers. A company must also convince potential distributors (both wholesale and retail) to stock the product. That task is made easier if one can visually show the differences between the old product and the new.
This lamp is a Philips "SL Electronic" demonstration piece made about 1985. Philips' original "SL" compact fluorescent lamp came equipped with a magnetic, coil-core ballast when introduced in 1981. The newer version replaced that magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast, raising energy efficiency in the lamp. This demonstration lamp has a clear base-skirt allowing whoever demonstrates the lamp to show the electronic circuitry.
All fluorescent lamps require a ballast due to a quirk engineers call negative-resistance characteristic. The electrical resistance inside a fluorescent lamp is very high when the lamp is off—that's why fluorescent lamps need starters. But once the current is flowing through the lamp the resistance drops, causing the lamp to draw more current, which drops the resistance further, causing still more current to be drawn. Without a control device in the circuit, this cycle would quickly destroy the lamp. A ballast, whether magnetic or elecronic, regulates the amount of current flowing through the lamp and prevents the cycle from occurring.
Lamp characteristics: Brass, medium-screw base with clear plastic skirt that houses an electronic ballast and a starter. Fluorescent tube includes two electrodes, mercury, and a phosphor coating. A corrugated plastic cover protects the tube. Eight slots in the cover allow excess heat to escape. Rating: 18 watts.
Date made
ca 1985
date made
ca. 1985
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.28
catalog number
1997.0389.28
accession number
1997.0389
"EarthLight Universal" compact fluorescent lamp in original package. Rated at 60 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"EarthLight Universal" compact fluorescent lamp in original package. Rated at 60 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.31
catalog number
1997.0389.31
accession number
1997.0389
Two 4-packs of "Soft White" incandescent lamps and one "IQ Auto-Off" lamp wrapped together. Promotional package.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Two 4-packs of "Soft White" incandescent lamps and one "IQ Auto-Off" lamp wrapped together. Promotional package.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1995
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.17
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.17
"IQ Auto-Off" incandescent lamp with a computer chip in the base that turns the lamp off after 30 minutes.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"IQ Auto-Off" incandescent lamp with a computer chip in the base that turns the lamp off after 30 minutes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1995
maker
Philips Lighting Company
Beacon Light Products, Inc.
ID Number
1997.0389.12
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.12
Compact fluorescent lamp retrofit kit in original package. Designed to replace incandescent lamps in exit signs.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Compact fluorescent lamp retrofit kit in original package. Designed to replace incandescent lamps in exit signs.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.10
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.10
Mercury-vapor lamp rated at 75 watts for general purpose use.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Mercury-vapor lamp rated at 75 watts for general purpose use.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1984
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.49
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.49
Production model "Earth Light" compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 75 watt incandescent lamp.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production model "Earth Light" compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 75 watt incandescent lamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.02
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.02
"Econo-Miser Luma-Circle" fluorescent lamp. Lamp is designed to replace an incandescent lamp in a table fixture.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Econo-Miser Luma-Circle" fluorescent lamp. Lamp is designed to replace an incandescent lamp in a table fixture.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1984
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.35
catalog number
1997.0389.35
accession number
1997.0389
"MasterColour" metal halide lamp with ceramic arc-tube. Single-ended projection lamp rated at 35 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"MasterColour" metal halide lamp with ceramic arc-tube. Single-ended projection lamp rated at 35 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.33
catalog number
1997.0389.33
accession number
1997.0389
"Watchman" incandescent lamp with a second filament that lights (at a low level) when the main filament fails.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Watchman" incandescent lamp with a second filament that lights (at a low level) when the main filament fails.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1992
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.14
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.14
Four incandescent lamps with "Soft White" coating. In original package. Rated at 40 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Four incandescent lamps with "Soft White" coating. In original package. Rated at 40 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.16
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.16
Two incandescent lamps with "Soft White" coating. In original package. Rated at 15 watts.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Two incandescent lamps with "Soft White" coating. In original package. Rated at 15 watts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.20
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.20
Production "MasterColor" metal halide lamp in original package. With cylindrical shield surrounding arc-tube.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production "MasterColor" metal halide lamp in original package. With cylindrical shield surrounding arc-tube.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1996-03
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.07
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.07
Thomas Edison began selling his incandescent lamp in 1880 and only a few years later introduced a version with a silver coating on the back that served as a reflector.
Description
Thomas Edison began selling his incandescent lamp in 1880 and only a few years later introduced a version with a silver coating on the back that served as a reflector. Almost exactly 100 years later (1981) Philips began selling their SL-18 compact fluorescent lamp and within a few years introduced a version with a built-in reflector—the lamp seen here.
Reflector lamps have been most often sold as either spot lights that throw a narrow beam of light, or as flood lights that throw a broader beam. Engineers alter the shape of the reflector to create different beam patterns. In an incandescent lamp they typically place the filament at a focal point so as to get as much light as possible to travel along the path they've designed. Making a compact fluorescent reflector lamp was something of a challenge since the folded-tube that radiates the light is long and is not considered "a point-source" of light. The ridges seen on the outside of the silver reflector also appear inside and help direct the light from the tube out of the lamp.
Lamp characteristics: Brass, medium-screw base with plastic skirt that houses a magnetic ballast, and a starter. Fluorescent tube includes two electrodes, mercury, and a phosphor coating. An R-shaped plastic envelope serves as a reflector and is enclosed with a plastic cover. Rating: 18 watts, 120 volts.
Date made
ca 1985
date made
ca. 1985
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.36
catalog number
1997.0389.36
accession number
1997.0389
"QL" induction lamp system rated at 85 watts. This electrodeless lamp uses a radio frequency to generate light.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"QL" induction lamp system rated at 85 watts. This electrodeless lamp uses a radio frequency to generate light.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.40
catalog number
1997.0389.40
accession number
1997.0389
White decorative incandescent lamp in original package.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
White decorative incandescent lamp in original package.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1988
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.38
catalog number
1997.0389.38
accession number
1997.0389
Two 55 watt incandescent lamps in original package. Made for Sears, Roebuck and Company for use in garage door openers.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Two 55 watt incandescent lamps in original package. Made for Sears, Roebuck and Company for use in garage door openers.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.09
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.09
Production metal halide "Mastercolour" lamp with ceramic arc-tube. In original package with instruction sheet.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production metal halide "Mastercolour" lamp with ceramic arc-tube. In original package with instruction sheet.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1996
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.04
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.04
"Cameo" decorative incandescent lamp in original package.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Cameo" decorative incandescent lamp in original package.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1985
maker
Philips Lighting Company
ID Number
1997.0389.37
catalog number
1997.0389.37
accession number
1997.0389

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