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.
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Section of rectangular vacuum chamber of SPEAR (Stanford Positron Electron Accelerating Ring) at SLAC
- Description
- Section of rectangular vacuum chamber with integral sputter ion vacuum pump. Since the complete vacuum chamber makes up a closed circular apparatus (SPEAR), object 1980.0177.03 has an arc-shaped length. Section cut away to reveal titanium sputter in vacuum pump.
- SPEAR (Stanford Positron Electron Accelerating Ring) at SLAC was completed in 1972. SPEAR consists of a single ring some 80 meters in diameter, in which counter-rotating beams of electrons and positrons were circulated at energies up to 4 GeV. SPEAR was the first storage ring/colliding beam facility (collider) to provide important new discoveries in elementary particle physics, e.g., the J/psi meson that is made up of a combination of a quark and an antiquark of an entirely new kind (charm quark) and a third lepton in addition to the electron and the muon (tau lepton). Subsequently, the SPEAR facility has served as an intense x-ray source for research in physics, chemistry and biology. For detailed information, see:
- http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/content/spear3/spear-history
- https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/news/2011-06-02-shedding-light.aspx
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1970-1972
- maker
- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
- ID Number
- 1980.0177.03
- accession number
- 1980.0177
- catalog number
- 1980.0177.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Integral compact fluorescent lamp
- Description
- When incandescent lamp manufacturers want to make lamps with different ratings, 40 watt and 60 watt lamps for example, they simply alter the length of the coiled tungsten filament. Since the filament is rather small in either case, there's little apparent difference in the two lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are different.
- This lamp is a demonstration triple-tube compact fluorescent lamp made by Philips about 1995. One way to increase the light output from CFLs is to make the tube longer. In this lamp the three tubes are connected by thin glass passages called bridge-welds, creating a continuous path for the electric current to travel. Using bridge-welds allowed the engineers to place the three tubes very close together, reducing the size of the lamp as a whole. The plastic base-skirt that houses the control electronics is clear so that whoever is demonstrating the lamp can show the electronic circuitry.
- Lamp characteristics: Nickle-plated, medium-screw base with clear plastic skirt that houses an electronic ballast and a starter. Three fluorescent tubes are connected by bridge-welds. Included are two electrodes, mercury, and a phosphor coating. No external cover is placed over the tubes. Lamp was operational when donated.
- Date made
- ca 1995
- date made
- ca. 1995
- maker
- Philips Lighting Company
- ID Number
- 1997.0389.30
- catalog number
- 1997.0389.30
- accession number
- 1997.0389
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mercury Vapor Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- A 100 watt mercury vapor lamp designed for alternating current operation with a reactive transformer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1938
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- 1997.0387.03
- accession number
- 1997.0387
- catalog number
- 1997.0387.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Circular Fluorescent Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- "MiniCirc" fluorescent lamp. Lamp is designed to replace an incandescent lamp in a table fixture.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1990
- maker
- Lights of America
- ID Number
- 1997.0389.39
- catalog number
- 1997.0389.39
- accession number
- 1997.0389
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mercury Vapor Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Experimental mercury vapor lamp rated at 1000 watts. Typewritten label indicates a test run of "12,120 hours.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1950
- maker
- Westinghouse Electric Corp.
- ID Number
- 1997.0389.44
- accession number
- 1997.0389
- catalog number
- 1997.0389.44
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Heat Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Incandescent infra-red lamp for drying. These large and bulky lamps were replaced by tungsten halogen heat lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1955
- Maker
- Westinghouse Electric Corp.
- ID Number
- 1997.0389.45
- accession number
- 1997.0389
- catalog number
- 1997.0389.45
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Fluorescent Christmas Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Fluorescent Christmas tree lamp, coral colored. A coronal discharge lamp with a phosphor coating.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1946
- maker
- Sylvania Electric Products Inc.
- ID Number
- 1998.0005.01
- catalog number
- 1998.0005.01
- accession number
- 1998.0005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Experimental Compact Fluorecent Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Experimental Solenoidal Electric Field lamp with internal coil. Air-core coil, not a ferrite, energizes the gas.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1975
- maker
- Anderson, John M.
- ID Number
- 1998.0050.18
- accession number
- 1998.0050
- catalog number
- 1998.0050.18
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Electrically Welded Specimen, Bicycle Crank Hanger
- Description
- This bicycle’s welded steel crank hanger was created using Elihu Thomson’s electric welding apparatus (see object number MC*181724). Welding samples demonstrated the potential industrial applications of electric welding, and illustrations of these samples were published in journals, brochures, and advertisements. Elihu Thomson’s invention of electric welding in 1885 resulted in numerous industrial applications including the manufacture of automobile parts, tools, screws, ball bearings, and wire lines. Thomson’s welding apparatus pressed two pieces of metal together while an electric current ran through the metal. Resistance to the current at the contact point between the metal pieces created heat and welded the metals together.
- Scientist and inventor Elihu Thomson (1853-1937) played a prominent role in the industrialization and electrification of America with over 700 patents in his name. His inventions and patents helped change the nature of industry in the United States and included the “uniflow” steam engine, automobile muffler, producing fused quartz, stereoscopic x-ray pictures, electric arc lamps, lightning arrestors, and perhaps most notably—the process of electrical welding. Thomson and partner Edwin Houston established a variety of companies to manage his industrial interests. In 1892, his Thomson-Houston Electric Company merged with the Edison Electric Company to form General Electric.
- date made
- 1886
- maker
- Thomson, Elihu
- ID Number
- EM.181676
- catalog number
- 181676
- accession number
- 33015
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Tungsten Filament Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- A coiled-tungsten filament 400 watt projection lamp with a glass straight-sided envelope.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1919
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.307573
- catalog number
- 307573
- accession number
- 68492
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Tungsten Stereoptican Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- A coiled-tungsten filament stereoptican projection lamp with a globe-shaped envelope.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1914
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.307577
- catalog number
- 307577
- accession number
- 68492
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Tungsten Filament Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- A third generation tungsten filament lamp with pear-shaped envelope. For use in street lighting on a parallel-circuit.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1920
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.307592
- catalog number
- 307592
- accession number
- 68492
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Standard Tungsten Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First generation tungsten lamp tested at the National Bureau of Standards. Filament is sintered tungsten.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1908
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- 1992.0342.18
- accession number
- 1992.0342
- catalog number
- 1992.0342.18
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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p-type hexagonal solar cell for terrestrial use
- Description (Brief)
- Solar cells come in many shapes and sizes, and are manufactured with a variety of materials. The wafer of this hexagonal cell is made with the element silicon. The dark areas convert sunlight into electricity while the thick and thin lines are part of the electrical circuit. The white, tapered arrow along the center is the main lead and gathers the charge from twelve thin “fingers” that run horizontally across the wafer. This solar cell was designed for use on the ground rather than in space. The hexagonal shape allows many cells to be grouped together on a panel, minimizing wasted space between each cell.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1972
- ID Number
- 2016.0070.09
- accession number
- 2016.0070
- catalog number
- 2016.0070.09
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Electrically Welded Specimen, Bicycle Head Lug
- Description
- This bicycle’s welded steel head post was created using Elihu Thomson’s electric welding apparatus (see object number MC*181724). Welding samples demonstrated the potential industrial applications of electric welding, and illustrations of these samples were published in journals, brochures, and advertisements. Elihu Thomson’s invention of electric welding in 1885 resulted in numerous industrial applications including the manufacture of automobile parts, tools, screws, ball bearings, and wire lines. Thomson’s welding apparatus pressed two pieces of metal together while an electric current ran through the metal. Resistance to the current at the contact point between the metal pieces created heat and welded the metals together.
- Scientist and inventor Elihu Thomson (1853-1937) played a prominent role in the industrialization and electrification of America with over 700 patents in his name. His inventions and patents helped change the nature of industry in the United States and included the “uniflow” steam engine, automobile muffler, producing fused quartz, stereoscopic x-ray pictures, electric arc lamps, lightning arrestors, and perhaps most notably—the process of electrical welding. Thomson and partner Edwin Houston established a variety of companies to manage his industrial interests. In 1892, his Thomson-Houston Electric Company merged with the Edison Electric Company to form General Electric.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1886
- maker
- Thomson, Elihu
- ID Number
- EM.181679
- catalog number
- 181679
- accession number
- 33015
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Telstar solar cell
- Description (Brief)
- Batteries provide electric power reliably but have limited life, making them impractical for long missions in space. So when engineers at Bell Labs designed the Telstar communications satellites, they used 3600 solar cells to generate the 14 watts needed to operate the satellite. Twelve silicon cells were mounted in a platinum frame set on a ceramic base and covered with a sapphire plate to make a strip like this one.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- c1962
- date made
- ca 1962
- maker
- Bell Laboratories
- ID Number
- EM.322974.03
- accession number
- 247512
- catalog number
- 322794.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Optical Test Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Incandescent optical testing lamp. A glass tube is mounted perpendicular to the lamp axis at the light-center point.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1918
- associated user
- unknown
- ID Number
- EM.327618
- catalog number
- 327618
- accession number
- 268279
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Carbon Filament Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- “Meridian” lamp with reflector. This lamp has a frosted globe shape with no external exhaust tip.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1904
- ID Number
- EM.328072
- accession number
- 270107
- catalog number
- 328072
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Model of Edison's Pearl Street power station
- Description
- This scale model of Thomas Edison's Pearl Street power station was made in 1927. It demonstrates the internal arrangement of generating equipment and can be operated by means of a small electric motor in the base.
- The first floor contained the boiler room and coal-handling equipment. Steam created by the boilers operated Porter-Allen horizontal steam engines on the second floor. The engines powered large Edison electrical generators nicknamed "Jumbo" after the famous elephant. Control and switching equipment were housed on the third and fourth floors.
- The site for Edison's generating station had to satisfy both engineering and business needs. Because Edison used 100 volt direct current to power his new light bulbs, customers could be no further than ½ mile from the generator. But he needed a high profile location to promote the system. Edison chose a site in the heart of New York's financial district, 255 and 257 Pearl Street. On 4 September 1882, he threw a switch in the office of one of his main investors, J. Pierpont Morgan, and initiated service to the area.
- A fire damaged the station extensively in 1890 but Edison and his men worked around the clock for 11 days to restore service. The station was taken out of service and dismantled in 1895, the building sold and later demolished. The New York Edison Company placed a commemorative plaque at the site in 1917.
- Date made
- 1927
- maker
- Edison Company
- ID Number
- EM.309605
- catalog number
- 309605
- accession number
- 104795
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Plane for making Edison bamboo filaments
- Description
- Inventing a new technical device not only involves creating the device itself, but often entails creating special tools to produce the device or the component pieces of the device. Thomas Edison conducted experiments on hundreds of different types of natural fibers in his search for a material that would serve as a light bulb filament.
- Date made
- 1880
- associated user
- unknown
- maker
- Edison, Thomas Alva
- S. R. Wells & Co.
- ID Number
- EM.314259
- catalog number
- 314259
- accession number
- 198085
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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- Lamps 409
- Industrialization 54
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- Mathematics 52
- Science 52
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- Lasers 23
- Ecology 18
- On the Water exhibit 17
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- Artifact Walls exhibit 11
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- Incandescent lamps (lighting device components) 210
- discharge lamp 140
- fluorescent lamp 76
- solar cell 15
- discharge lamp components 12
- laser 12
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- Button 10
- welding sample 9
- button 8
- Models (representations) 6
- discharge lamp component 6
- incandescent lamp components 6
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- electroluminescent lamp 4
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- Energy & Power 643
- Work and Industry: Electricity 542
- Electric Lamps 409
- National Museum of American History 93
- Industry & Manufacturing 54
- Science & Mathematics 52
- Exhibit: 49
- Medicine and Science: Modern Physics 28
- Modern Physics 25
- Transportation 24
- Lasers 23
- Work 21
- Measuring & Mapping 19
- Work and Industry: Maritime 19
- Medicine and Science: Biological Sciences 17
- On the Water exhibit 17
- American Enterprise 15
- On the Water 15
- Natural Resources 13
- Artifact Walls exhibit 11
