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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Page 1 of 15
-
napkin
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880s
- ID Number
- DL.65.0778
- catalog number
- 65.0778
- accession number
- 258259
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
napkin
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880s
- ID Number
- DL.65.0779
- catalog number
- 65.0779
- accession number
- 258259
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
napkin
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880s
- ID Number
- DL.65.0777
- catalog number
- 65.0777
- accession number
- 258259
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Cheeseball Holder
- Description
- Hollow-handled cheese ball holder or server with three adjustable clamping arms enclosing a small, slightly concave circular tray on a dome base edged in roses and ruffled leaves. The arms fit through three holes in the neck below tray and are attached to a screw knob mechanism on the underside that opens and closes them. Screw knob is struck incuse "QUADRUPLE PLATE" in serif letters above a circular crossed-hammers mark for "WILCOX SILVER PLATE C\o." with crossed raising hammers at center, the number "40" and "PATENTED" below.
- Maker is Wilcox Silver Plate Co. of Meriden, CT. The firm was founded as Wilcox Britannia Co. in 1865, and changed its name to Wilcox Silver Plate Co. in 1867. It was one of the founding members of International Silver Co. in 1898; Insilco continued to use the Wilcox name and trademark until circa 1961 when the line was consolidated with E. G. Webster & Son (purchased by Insilco in 1928) into Webster-Wilcox.
- Seth W. Babbitt of Meriden, CT, assignor to the Wilcox Plate Co. received U.S. Patent No. 453,571 on June 2, 1891 for "improvements in table articles designed to receive and securely hold cheeses of the kind particularly known as Edam and Pine-Apple".
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1880s
- date patented
- 1891-06-02
- patent date
- 1891-06-02
- ID Number
- 1987.0140.1
- accession number
- 1987.0140
- catalog number
- 1987.140.1
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
bank, toy
- date made
- ca 1882
- ID Number
- 1988.0194.01
- accession number
- 1988.0194
- catalog number
- 1988.0194.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
patent model, windmill
- Location
- Currently not on view
- patent date
- 1882-05-02
- inventor
- Coan, Santford P.
- ID Number
- AG.257292
- catalog number
- 257292
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 257,292
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Frederick Everhart McKinley's 1882 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
- Description
- Frederick Everhart McKinley from Wellington, Kansas, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 263558 was issued on August 29, 1882.
- This model has a singular bench seat with wooden hinges that come from underneath two front legs. The desk is attached to a backrest that has two slots underneath. The design promised better support and strength than previously made desks. The desk could swing downward, and the seat would be able to swing up. The desk is made of unpolished slats of light colored wood.
- Frederick Everhart McKinley was a carpenter born in 1850.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1882
- patent date
- 1882-08-29
- inventor
- McKinley, Frederick E.
- ID Number
- CL.65.0414
- accession number
- 249602
- catalog number
- 65.0414
- patent number
- 263,558
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Frederick Everhart McKinley's 1881 School Desk and Seat Patent Model
- Description
- Frederick Everhart McKinley from Wellington, Kansas, received a U.S. patent for an improved school desk. Patent no. 246177 was issued on August 23, 1881.
- This desk is supported by a stationary bar that allows the desk to pivot. Both desk and seat can fold up to save space when room is needed. The desk has a shelf, which is supported by two wooden brackets. The seat folds with the use of metal hinges. The desk is made up of unpolished slats of light colored wood.
- Frederick Everhart McKinley was a carpenter born in 1850.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1881
- patent date
- 1881-08-23
- associated date
- 1876
- patentee
- McKinley, Frederick E.
- transfer
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- inventor
- McKinley, Frederick E.
- ID Number
- CL.249602.583
- catalog number
- 249602.583
- accession number
- 249602
- patent number
- 246,177
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- series date
- 1882
- BEP certification date
- 1892-05-17
- plate date
- 1892-06-26
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Nebecker, Enos H.
- Register of the Treasury
- Rosecrans, William S.
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Kansas
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.005618
- catalog number
- 297219.005618
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 2011
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mudge Patent Canner and Sterilizer
- Description
- Four-jar canner and sterilizer consisting of a square, copper-bottom tank with four perforated collars on top that hold four, tall, cylindrical covers with wire bail handles and rounded, spun-copper, friction-fit tops inverted at their centers. Screw-cap opening at one top corner of tank also functions as a low water alarm whistle; two oval wire handles are on opposite sides. Folded seams. Rectangular, beaded-edge, brass tag mounted to side of tank is embossed "JOHN L. CAUMER CO. / MAKERS / PHILADELPHIA"; clipped-corner, beaded-edge brass tags on the covers read "MUDGE (arched) / PATENT / CANNER (curved)".
- This device is named for Charles F. Mudge of Eskridge, KS, who received U.S. Patent No. 346,122 on July 27, 1886, for his "canning apparatus". Originally came with an adjustable can lifter and booklet containing instructions and recipes.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1886
- patent date
- 1886-07-27
- ID Number
- DL.257491.0090
- catalog number
- 257491.0090
- accession number
- 257491
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Lightning Whelk Shell
- Description
- Gray lightning whelk shell; left-handed (sinistral) whorl with black mottling on its interior.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- ID Number
- DL.65.2685
- catalog number
- 65.2685
- accession number
- 258259
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Bragden Windmill, Patent Model
- Location
- Currently not on view
- patent date
- 1882-05-09
- inventor
- Bragdon, Benjamin J.
- ID Number
- MC.336510
- accession number
- 1978.0318
- patent number
- 257,649
- catalog number
- 336510
- patent number
- 257,649
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Preface/To a Written Address... the 1st day of September 1860...
- Description (Brief)
- Broadside written by Daniel Boyer alerting people to his public address opposing the extension of slavery into the new territories and the “Fraudulent Lecompton Constitution.” Dated Boyertown, PA, July 17, 1860 .
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- July 17, 1860
- maker
- Boyer, Daniel
- ID Number
- 2014.0271.02
- accession number
- 2014.0271
- catalog number
- 2014.0271.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1882-03-13
- plate date
- 1882-03-01
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Gilfillan, James
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Cawker City
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010357
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010357
- bank charter number
- 2640
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1882-03-23
- plate date
- 1882-03-13
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Gilfillan, James
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Topeka
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010358
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010358
- bank charter number
- 2646
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1882-09-02
- plate date
- 1882-08-09
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Gilfillan, James
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- Chase County National Bank of Cottonwood Falls
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010370
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010370
- bank charter number
- 2764
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1900-07-24
- plate date
- 1883-05-16
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Wyman, Albert Uriah
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Seneca
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010400
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010400
- bank charter number
- 2952
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1900-08-22
- plate date
- 1883-11-05
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Wyman, Albert Uriah
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Clay Center
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010428
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010428
- bank charter number
- 3072
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1883-12-27
- plate date
- 1883-12-15
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Wyman, Albert Uriah
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- Concordia National Bank
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010435
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010435
- bank charter number
- 3090
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1884-01-04
- plate date
- 1883-12-17
- series date
- 1882
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Wyman, Albert Uriah
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- Wellington National Bank
- depicted
- Garfield, James A.
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.010436
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.010436
- bank charter number
- 3091
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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