Circa 1916 ad for
"Westinghouse Electric Ranges (Copeman Patents)".

from the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana
National Museum of American History, Archives Center
SI negative # 79-2129

     While home-owners may have initially installed electric lines to bring in power for lamps, manufacturers soon began offering other electrical products. Notice the toaster and clock which are displayed with this range. A practice called "diversifying load" became essential to the economic efficiency of the electric industry. By creating a market for day-time electricity use to balance the night-time lighting load, utilities could make the most of their expensive investments in physical plant.

     "Copeman Patents" appears to refer to Lloyd G. Copeman of Fort Smith, Arkansas, an inventor with several electric range patents during this era.