Energy & Power

Gasoline Pump

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.

"Sun Day is May 3" Button

This button promoted Sun Day, 3 May 1978.
Description (Brief)
This button promoted Sun Day, 3 May 1978. As stated in a joint resolution of Congress signed into law by President Jimmy Carter: “Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress, assembled, That May 3, 1978, is proclaimed ‘Sun Day’, and the President is authorized and requested (a) to issue a proclamation calling upon the general public, industry, and labor of the United States to observe such day with appropriate activities and ceremonies, and (b) to direct all appropriate Federal agencies to cooperate with, and participate in, the celebration of ‘Sun Day’.”
Reference: Public Law 95-253, 27 March 1978.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1978
ID Number
2003.0014.0392
accession number
2003.0014
catalog number
2003.0014.0392

Electronic Halarc Lamp

The Halarc lamp was an attempt by General Electric to produce an energy-efficient replacement for the common, incandescent A-lamp. While other makers focused on developing reliable compact fluorescent lamps, GE decided to miniaturize its metal halide technology.
Description (Brief)
The Halarc lamp was an attempt by General Electric to produce an energy-efficient replacement for the common, incandescent A-lamp. While other makers focused on developing reliable compact fluorescent lamps, GE decided to miniaturize its metal halide technology. Already successful for street lighting, large metal halide lamps provided good color and excellent energy efficiency. Unfortunately the miniaturized lamps had undesirable performance characteristics such as taking several minutes to come to full-power and changing color emissions. These issues combined with high cost made the lamp a commercial failure.
date made
ca 1981
ID Number
1992.0428.01
catalog number
1992.0428.01
accession number
1992.0428

Thomson DC Generator

This model of a direct-current generator was designed by Elihu Thomson to produce a constant voltage. It could also be used as a motor that would maintain a constant speed. It came to the Smithsonian from the U. S.
Description
This model of a direct-current generator was designed by Elihu Thomson to produce a constant voltage. It could also be used as a motor that would maintain a constant speed. It came to the Smithsonian from the U. S. Patent Office, representing patent number 333,573, issued to Thomson on January 5, 1886. The patent itself indicates that no model was submitted (which is not surprising since by that time models were not required), and this example was probably given to the Patent Office at a slightly later date for display purposes.
Thomson and Edwin Houston were school teachers in Philadelphia in the 1870s when they formed a partnership (the Thomson-Houston Company) to enter the new and competitive arc-lighting field. They produced a number of successful generators, motors, meters, and lighting devices. Most of their system employed alternating current, which was as good as direct current for lighting. With the development of the transformer in the mid-1880s, AC systems assumed added importance because electricity generated at a low voltage could now be converted to high voltage for more efficient transmission and then converted back to safer low voltage for use by consumers. But electro-chemical applications (like plating) required DC generators, and, until the invention of a practical AC motor by Nikola Tesla at the end of the 1880s, street railways depended on DC.
Thomson-Houston merged with Edison's company in 1892 to form General Electric.
See US Patent 333573, "Dynamo Electric Machine," issued 5 January 1886 to Elihu Thomson. Claim: "A design with spherical armature and round-type frame to obtain a dynamo-electric machine capable of furnishing a constant potential; or an electric motor capable of maintaining a constant speed." No extant maker's markings. This machine has a revolving circular armature with pulley wheel on one end of shaft and adjustable brushes at the other. Field magnets are supported inside the frame.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1886
patent date
1886-01-05
associated person
Thomson, Elihu
associated company
Thomson-Houston Electric Company
maker
Thomson, Elihu
ID Number
EM.252663
catalog number
252663
patent number
333573
accession number
49064

Ship Tools from the Propeller Indiana, Hand Truck

These hand tools were found in the engine and boiler space belowdecks in Indiana’s hold, indicating that they were used for the machinery.
Description
These hand tools were found in the engine and boiler space belowdecks in Indiana’s hold, indicating that they were used for the machinery. The crew used the shovel to add coal to the fires.
The hand truck—virtually identical to modern examples—is one of four found aboard Indiana and used for moving cargo into, out of, and around the cargo hold of the ship. This hand truck was the artifact that actually identified the vessel when it was located in 1972, for the words “PROPR INDIANA” were stamped into its handle. The other three had different ships’ names stamped on them, indicating that they were secondhand or borrowed equipment.
Date made
ca 1858
when the Indiana was found
1972
ID Number
1994.0033.01
catalog number
1994.0033.01
accession number
1994.0033

Daystrom 046 Mainframe Computer, "Little Gypsy"

This section of the Daystrom 046 consists of the multiplexer, logic cabinets, and auxiliary memory. The 046 was manufactured by Daystrom's La Jolla division and was the company's first product utilizing transistors and core memory.
Description
This section of the Daystrom 046 consists of the multiplexer, logic cabinets, and auxiliary memory. The 046 was manufactured by Daystrom's La Jolla division and was the company's first product utilizing transistors and core memory. Daystrom guaranteed a 99 percent availability, which was demonstrated at Louisiana Power & Light's Sterlington Plant. This 046 is the second purchased by Louisiana Power & Light. It was installed at the Little Gypsy Power Plant in 1961 in LaPlace, La., and was the first computer to control a power plant from startup to shutdown.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961
maker
Daystrom Incorporated
ID Number
1990.0551.01
accession number
1990.0551
catalog number
1990.0551.01

"New Type Edison" incandescent lamp

Invention rarely stops when the inventor introduces a new device. Thomas A. Edison and his team worked to improve his electric lighting system for some years after the initial introduction in 1880.
Description (Brief)
Invention rarely stops when the inventor introduces a new device. Thomas A. Edison and his team worked to improve his electric lighting system for some years after the initial introduction in 1880. This lamp shows changes made after about ten years of labor aimed at lowering costs and increasing production. The simplified base required little material; the diameter and thread-pitch are still used today. The filament was changed from bamboo to a treated cellulose, based on an invention by English chemist Joseph Swan. The bulb was probably free blown by Corning Glass Works, but would soon be replaced by a bulb made by semi-skilled laborers blowing glass into iron molds. The cost had dropped from about $1.00 per lamp to less than 30¢.
date made
ca 1886
ca 1889
maker
Edison Lamp Company
ID Number
EM.318685
catalog number
318685
accession number
232729

March for a Non-Nuclear World

A poster created by the Coalition for a Non-nuclear World advertising a series of events including a march, rally and lobbying at Capitol Hill.Currently not on view
Description
A poster created by the Coalition for a Non-nuclear World advertising a series of events including a march, rally and lobbying at Capitol Hill.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2015.0066.26
accession number
2015.0066
catalog number
2015.0066.26

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