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.

Reddy Kilowatt Hand Puppet

This hand puppet of the character “Reddy Kilowatt” has lightning bolts for limbs and a light bulb for a nose. First created in 1926 by Ashton B. Collins of the Alabama Power Company, Reddy Kilowatt served as a licensed spokes-character for privately-owned electric utilities.
Description
This hand puppet of the character “Reddy Kilowatt” has lightning bolts for limbs and a light bulb for a nose. First created in 1926 by Ashton B. Collins of the Alabama Power Company, Reddy Kilowatt served as a licensed spokes-character for privately-owned electric utilities. Designed to put a friendly face on electricity, Reddy was used to advance a variety of electrical messages, first encouraging electricity adoption, then electrical safety and efficiency. Collins also used the character to promote his conservative political views. Reddy appeared in print advertisements, animated shorts, films, TV ads, and a variety of licensed merchandise.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2013.0047.11
accession number
2013.0047
catalog number
2013.0047.11

Gasoline Pump

Made in Fort Wayne Indiana, this gasoline pump sold "Red Crown" gasoline, a brand produced by Standard Oil of Indiana.
Description
Made in Fort Wayne Indiana, this gasoline pump sold "Red Crown" gasoline, a brand produced by Standard Oil of Indiana. Consumers could see how much gas was pumped as the arrow moved around the face dial.
As Americans began to drive gasoline-fueled cars in large numbers, oil companies and gasoline stations created technologies and systems to fulfill the demands of consumers. By the 1930s, pumps were the recognizable ancestors of the ones we use today.
Date made
1930
date made
1932
distributor
Amoco
maker
Wayne Oil Tank & Pump Company
ID Number
TR.326809
accession number
265699
catalog number
326809

Modular fluorescent lamp

In the wake of soaring energy prices in the 1970s, several manufacturers quickly introduced new lamp designs to meet a demand for efficient lighting devices.
Description
In the wake of soaring energy prices in the 1970s, several manufacturers quickly introduced new lamp designs to meet a demand for efficient lighting devices. General Electric mounted a circular fluorescent tube on an adapter that housed a starter and ballast, and that could screw into an ordinary fixture. Called the Circlite, this hybrid product was introduced to the public in 1976.
Since circular fluorescent tubes were already a mature product (originally developed in 1943), GE could take advantage of existing research data and production lines for the Circlite. Also, retailers and consumers were familiar with circular lamps, which eased resistance to the introduction of the new unit. The modular design allowed users to replace the tube when it failed, without having to replace the more expensive ballast package. Ultimately, GE and other manufacturers produced several versions of the lamp and refined the product. A light-weight electronic ballast replaced the heavier, less-efficient magnetic ballast used in this 1978 model, for example. As of today Circlites remain in production.
Lamp characteristics: A modular fluorescent lamp with three components: ballast, mounting frame, and lamp. Ballast: aluminum medium-screw base with brass contact and a glass insulator. A plastic skirt houses a magnetic ballast and a receptacle for a circular fluorescent lamp frame. Mounting frame: a three-arm plastic frame (made in two halves) with a sliding switch to release the ballast. The ballast mounts at center of mounting frame. Lamp: circular fluorescent tube with soft white colored phosphor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1978
Date made
ca 1978
manufacturer
General Electric
ID Number
1997.0388.25
accession number
1997.0388
catalog number
1997.0388.25

Miniature Photoflash Lamps

Set of three miniature lamps for photoflash application.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Set of three miniature lamps for photoflash application.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
1996.0147.45
catalog number
1996.0147.45
accession number
1996.0147

Experimental Tungsten Halogen Lamp

Experimental tungsten halogen lamp with quartz envelope, rolled seals, and a coiled-coil tungsten filament.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental tungsten halogen lamp with quartz envelope, rolled seals, and a coiled-coil tungsten filament.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1964
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
1996.0147.41
catalog number
1996.0147.41
accession number
1996.0147

Experimental Tungsten Halogen Lamp

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

Raylino Incandescent Lamp

Linear incandescent lamp with a carbon filament. Manufacturer unknown.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Linear incandescent lamp with a carbon filament. Manufacturer unknown.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1911
ID Number
1997.0388.69
catalog number
1997.0388.69
accession number
1997.0388

Flat Fluorescent Lamp

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 Short Arc Lamp

Experimental arc lamp. Ribbon foils are welded to electrodes with large surface area. Metal end caps on both seals.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental arc lamp. Ribbon foils are welded to electrodes with large surface area. Metal end caps on both seals.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1966
maker
Fridrich, Elmer G.
ID Number
1996.0147.72
accession number
1996.0147
catalog number
1996.0147.72

Tungsten Filament Lamp

A third generation tungsten filament lamp with pear-shaped envelope. For use in street lighting on a series-circuit.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
A third generation tungsten filament lamp with pear-shaped envelope. For use in street lighting on a series-circuit.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1915
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.307591
catalog number
307591
accession number
68492

Mercury Vapor Lamp

The type S-1 sunlamp combined incandescent and mercury vapor technology into one lamp. Used for tanning.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
The type S-1 sunlamp combined incandescent and mercury vapor technology into one lamp. Used for tanning.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1935
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
1997.0387.06
accession number
1997.0387
catalog number
1997.0387.06

Mercury vapor lamp, type H1

The type H-1 mercury vapor lamp represented a significant advance in commercial-industrial light sources. Prior to the H-1, mercury lamps contained large amounts of the toxic metal, and most were large and awkward to use.
Description
The type H-1 mercury vapor lamp represented a significant advance in commercial-industrial light sources. Prior to the H-1, mercury lamps contained large amounts of the toxic metal, and most were large and awkward to use. The H-1 featured a small amount of mercury contained in an internal hard-glass "arc-tube" mounted inside the lamp. Compared to previous mercury lamps, the H-1 was a compact and convenient device.
This particular unit is a first generation model from about 1934. A wire grid seen wrapped around the arc-tube helps the unit to start. Later models used a special small electrode for that task. Use of the internal arc-tube allowed the lamp to operate at high internal pressure, resulting in better energy efficiency. While not the first high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, mass production of the H-1 and its ease of use led to its wide adoption. Today's mercury vapor and metal halide lamps can be considered refinements of the H-1.
Lamp characteristics: A brass mogul-screw base with glass insulator. Hard-glass arc-tube with mercury drops visible on the inner wall. Two mandrel and re-coiled tungsten electrodes. Dumet and stranded wire leads connect the base to the electrodes. Starting electrode-grid wrapped around arc-tube and connected to frame. There is no starting resistor in this lamp. Welded connectors. Tipless, T-shape envelope. 400-watt rating.
Mercury vapor lamps are one type of discharge lamp. Other types are fluorescent and neon tubes. They make light by passing an electric current through a gas, and require additional devices called ballasts to operate properly (not seen in the pictures). More information about how discharge lamps operate is on our website Lighting A Revolution.
Date made
ca 1934
date made
ca. 1934
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
EM.318195
catalog number
318195
accession number
232822

Experimental Short Arc Lamp

Original mini-arc lamp with argon and iodine. The quartz envelope uses uranium glass for graded seals.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Original mini-arc lamp with argon and iodine. The quartz envelope uses uranium glass for graded seals.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Fridrich, Elmer G.
ID Number
1996.0147.28
accession number
1996.0147
catalog number
1996.0147.28

Experimental Surface-Wave Launcher

Experimental fluorescent lamp that used radio-frequency energy to excite gas in the electrodeless arc-tube.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental fluorescent lamp that used radio-frequency energy to excite gas in the electrodeless arc-tube.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1987
maker
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Levy, Donald L.
ID Number
1992.0553.14.1
catalog number
1992.0553.14.1
accession number
1992.0553

Fluorescent lamp demonstration fixture

This fixture was part of a sales demonstration kit for early fluorescent lamps. The unit has a metal case that’s open on two sides and includes a ballast, two fluorescent lamp-holders, two Lumiline lamp-holders, a toggle switch and a ten-foot power cord.
Description (Brief)
This fixture was part of a sales demonstration kit for early fluorescent lamps. The unit has a metal case that’s open on two sides and includes a ballast, two fluorescent lamp-holders, two Lumiline lamp-holders, a toggle switch and a ten-foot power cord. The power cord is not original and has been spliced onto the unit. Linear incandescent lamps called Lumiline were popular in the 1930s. Their end-caps consisted of a flat disc that snapped into the holder. GE engineers designed two types of fluorescent lamps with that style connector so as to save money by using existing production equipment.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1938
maker
General Electric
ID Number
1998.0231.19
accession number
1998.0231
catalog number
1998.0231.19

Integral Compact Fluorescent Lamp

Production model SL*18/27 compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 60 watt incandescent lamp.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production model SL*18/27 compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 60 watt incandescent lamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1990
maker
Philips Lighting Co.
ID Number
1996.0357.03
accession number
1996.0357
catalog number
1996.0357.03

Demonstration Fluorescent Lamp

A sales demonstration fluorescent lamp with wrapper. Clear end reveals electrode structure.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
A sales demonstration fluorescent lamp with wrapper. Clear end reveals electrode structure.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1966
maker
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
ID Number
1997.0387.18
accession number
1997.0387
catalog number
1997.0387.18

Incandescent Diving Lamp

A GE incandescent lamp for underwater use, circa 1957. [See GE 1957 catalog pp. 14, 21.] Catalog indicates that the unit's list price was $40, rated life was 50 hours, and it was designed "to withstand 300 lbs. of water pressure." Characteristics: Brass tube base (1.25" dia.
Description (Brief)
A GE incandescent lamp for underwater use, circa 1957. [See GE 1957 catalog pp. 14, 21.] Catalog indicates that the unit's list price was $40, rated life was 50 hours, and it was designed "to withstand 300 lbs. of water pressure." Characteristics: Brass tube base (1.25" dia. x 6" L) originally made with a 3" rubber-coated cable lead. Lead on this unit has been cut to 1.25". Two 1/4" holes are punched near the bottom. C-5 tungsten filament with six upper and five lower supports. The ends of the filament are welded to the leads. Glass support-mount is attached to leads with two wires. Tungsten powder is loose in lamp to clean the inner lamp wall of tungsten boiled-off the filament. Tipless, G-25 envelope. The patent for the tungsten powder cleaning technique is US1809661, "Electric Lamp," issued to GE's Daniel K. Wright on 9 June 1931.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1957
Maker
General Electric
ID Number
1997.0388.21
accession number
1997.0388
catalog number
1997.0388.21

Tungsten Filament Lamp

“Mazda B” lamp rated at 150 watts, for use on a 106 to 110 volt circuit.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
“Mazda B” lamp rated at 150 watts, for use on a 106 to 110 volt circuit.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1912
maker
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
ID Number
EM.320655
catalog number
320655
accession number
242716

Reflector Lamp for Plants

Production "Wattsaver-Argo" reflector lamp rated at 64 watts. Incandescent lamp designed to aid plant growth.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production "Wattsaver-Argo" reflector lamp rated at 64 watts. Incandescent lamp designed to aid plant growth.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1994
maker
DURO-TEST Corporation
ID Number
1997.0062.08
catalog number
1997.0062.08
accession number
1997.0062

Philips "Alto" Lamp Electrode Flares

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1995
maker
Philips Lighting BV
ID Number
1997.0389.01
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.01

Experimental Tungsten Halogen Lamp

Experimental tungsten halogen lamp with filament legs coiled around ends of the leads.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Experimental tungsten halogen lamp with filament legs coiled around ends of the leads.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1963
maker
Fridrich, Elmer G.
ID Number
1996.0147.37
accession number
1996.0147
catalog number
1996.0147.37

Mercury Vapor Lamp

The third version of the type H-1 mercury vapor lamp utilized “K Monel” tube supports and slightly more mercury.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
The third version of the type H-1 mercury vapor lamp utilized “K Monel” tube supports and slightly more mercury.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1937
maker
General Electric Company
ID Number
1997.0387.02
accession number
1997.0387
catalog number
1997.0387.02

Integral Compact Fluorescent Lamp

Production model SLS20 "Earth Light" compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 75 watt incandescent lamp.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Production model SLS20 "Earth Light" compact fluorescent lamp to replace a 75 watt incandescent lamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1993
maker
Philips Lighting Co.
ID Number
1996.0357.02
accession number
1996.0357
catalog number
1996.0357.02

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