Westinghouse Metallized lamp

Description:

Westinghouse metallized carbon-filament incandescent lamp, circa 1905. Brass medium-screw base with glass insulator. Two single-arch metallized carbon filaments with a center support/connector, carbon paste connectors, two-piece leads, cotton insulator. Tipped straight-sided envelope.

First generation GEM (General Electric Metallized) lamp. GE's Willis Whitney used his new electric resistance furnace to bake regular carbon filaments at high temperatures in a hydrocarbon atmosphere. The resulting filament took on properties more akin to metal filaments than carbon, and gave 20 percent better energy efficiency. GE introduced the product in 1904 and Westinghouse licensed and produced their own version of these lamps.

Date Made: ca 1905

Maker: Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Electricity

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: from the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: EM.327846Catalog Number: 327846Accession Number: 271855

Object Name: Light Bulbincandescent lampOther Terms: Light Bulb; Edison; Double Horseshoe; Carbon

Measurements: light bulb: 5 in x 2 5/16 in; 12.7 cm x 5.842 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2006-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_704260

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