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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Tilting kettle and stand
- Description
- Inverted pear-shaped tilting kettle decorated with intertwined rose branches around its shoulder and a cast rose finial on its swing-up, trumpet-shaped, circular lid; engraved "M\L/K" on one side above the circular, low-domed, ruffle-edged foot. Floral-decorated S-curve spout and hollow bail handle with bow grip and S-curve ends pinned into ivory insulators; body perforated at spout. Pairs of button knobs at sides fit onto two cast floral supports mounted to a matching, low-domed, circular stand that holds a removable, cylindrical spirit burner with long ivory-knob handle for diaphragm shutter; wire mesh beneath shutter and vent holes below top edge. Burner replaced; not original. From a six-piece coffee and tea service, 1980.0027.01-.06.
- Underside of kettle struck incuse with a stylized "M" trademark, "815" above "4 P'T'S." in roman letters,"STERLING" in sans serif letters with "5.626" scratched below. Inside of lid is scratched near edge "28\10(double underlined)". Underside of interior opening of stand has four equidistant incuse marks, a stylized "M" trademark, "815", and "MARCUS & CO." and "STERLING" in sans serif letters.
- Underside of burner struck incuse with Gorham trademark of lion passant facing right, an anchor, and gothic or Old English "G", all in clipped-corner outlined surrounds above "STERLING" in sans serif letters, the roman letter "P" and, at center, "PAT.APPLIED FOR" in sans serif letters.
- Maker is Marcus & Co., of New York, NY; 1892-1962 (merged with Black, Starr & Frost; founded 1810-present).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date kettle and stand made
- c. 1900
- date burner made
- 1883
- maker
- Marcus and Company
- Gorham Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1980.0027.01
- accession number
- 1980.0027
- catalog number
- 1980.0027.01
- 1980.0027.01-06
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Tamara Larix Bon Bon
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
- For the cure of constipation and liver diseases and thereby for the prevention of headache, dyspepsia, cerebral congestion, biliousness, piles, etc., etc. Cures constipation and thus prevents congestion of the brain, apoplexy, insanity, convulsions. It is almost a cure for sea sickness.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1872-1883
- maker
- McKesson and Robbins
- F. Crosby
- ID Number
- MG.M-12151.15
- accession number
- 271464
- catalog number
- M-12151.15
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Animal Oil, Fetid
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1883
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN81583D71
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Tobacco Pipe
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- ID Number
- DL.368372R
- catalog number
- 368372R
- accession number
- 129711
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
chair, side
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1880s
- ID Number
- DL.67.0016
- catalog number
- 67.0016
- accession number
- 266695
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Davis & Kidder's Patent Magneto-Electric Machine for Nervous Diseases
- Description
- Ari Davis (ca. 1811-1855) was a skilled American craftsman who received two patents in 1854. #10,788 (of April 18) described a machine for producing wooden boxes with metal-reinforced dovetail corners. #11,415 (of August 1) described a magneto-electric machine. While this second patent was still in process, Davis sold the rights to both patents to Walter Kidder, a physician in Lowell, Massachusetts, allegedly for $4000. Advertisements for DAVIS’ (later DAVIS & KIDDER’S) PATENT MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINE, FOR NERVOUS DISEASES were soon to be seen, with testimonials from three Americans involved with science: Benjamin Silliman at Yale College, Charles G. Page in Washington, D.C., and James R. Chilton, an instrument dealer in New York City. These machines were “MANUFACTURED BY W. KIDDER, Sole Proprietor, whose signature is attached to all genuine Machines.” By 1857, the business was in the hands of William H. Burnap (b. 1825), also of Lowell. By 1865, Burnap was working in New York City, and advertising as “Manufacturer of Davis & Kidder’s Electric Machines.”
- This example has a wood box with brass corners and ivory handle. The paper label is marked “DAVIS & KIDDER’S / PATENT MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINE / FOR NERVOUS DISEASES” with testimonials from Silliman (at left) and Paige (at right). The text at bottom reads “Manufactured and sold by W. H. BURNAP Sole Proprietor 259 West 27th St., New York, whose signature is attached to all genuine / Machines. All infringements upon his Patent will be prosecuted.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- c. 1854
- date made
- 1865-1885
- maker
- W. H. Burnap
- ID Number
- MG.M-10425
- catalog number
- M-10425
- accession number
- 246707
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Report of the Fire Department of the City of New York, 1885
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1886
- associated date
- 1885
- ID Number
- DL.033650
- catalog number
- 33650
- accession number
- 70138
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Roll of Honor of the Seventh Regiment, National Guard, S.N.Y.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1866
- ID Number
- DL.033673
- catalog number
- 33673
- accession number
- 70138
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sanders' New Series Third Reader
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1870 - 1880
- ID Number
- DL.62.0299A
- catalog number
- 62.0299A
- accession number
- 240815
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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McClellan's Chess Set
- Description
- Physical Description
- Wooden box covered with black paper. Inscribed on the cover “Geo. B. McClellan.” Paper label on the inside of cover bearing maker's name and address “Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, 19 Maiden Lane, New York.” One white pawn and one black knight are missing.
- Specific History
- Used by George McClellan during the Civil War.
- date made
- 1860
- user
- McClellan, George B.
- maker
- Schuyler, Hartley & Graham
- ID Number
- AF.17501
- catalog number
- 17501
- accession number
- 61384
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Reversible Mechanism for Countershaft
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1882
- patent date
- 1882-06-13
- inventor
- Moebius, Christian E. L.
- ID Number
- MC.308840
- catalog number
- 308840
- patent number
- 259,572
- accession number
- 89797
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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George W. N. Yost Typewriter Patent Model
- Description
- This typewriter patent model accompanied George W.N. Yost’s patent application that received patent number 313,973 on March 17, 1885. The patent covered a variety of improvements to typewriters, including a platen and carriage adapted for regulating line and letter spacing, and a bell ringing on the carriage return.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1885
- patent date
- 1885-03-17
- inventor
- Yost, George W. N.
- ID Number
- ME.308633
- catalog number
- 308633
- patent number
- 313,973
- 313,973
- accession number
- 89797
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Frank Leslie's Illustrated Publications
- Description
- An advertisement with prices for subscriptions to Frank Leslie's Illustrated, 1880.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1880
- associated date
- 1881
- ID Number
- 1979.0215.051
- accession number
- 1979.0215
- catalog number
- 1979.0215.051
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Gen'l James A. Garfield, Gen'l Chester A. Arthur
- Description
- A poster with likeness of James Garfield and Chester Arthur, Republican candidates for President and Vice President in 1880.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1880
- associated date
- 1881
- associated person
- Garfield, James A.
- Arthur, Chester A.
- associated institution
- Republican National Party
- ID Number
- 1979.0215.014
- accession number
- 1979.0215
- catalog number
- 1979.0215.014
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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patent model, cotton picking machine
- Location
- Currently not on view
- patent date
- 1880-05-25
- inventor
- Beekman, Gerard
- ID Number
- AG.227949
- catalog number
- 227949
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 227,949
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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patent model, press, cotton
- Location
- Currently not on view
- patent date
- 1881-07-19
- inventor
- Reynolds, George H.
- ID Number
- AG.244672
- catalog number
- 244672
- accession number
- 089797
- patent number
- 244,672
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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The Holy Bible
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date published
- 1866
- inscribed date
- 1869-06-17
- 1864
- 1865
- 1878
- 1880-01-01
- ID Number
- DL.033663A
- catalog number
- 33663A
- accession number
- 70138
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Order for Daily Evening Prayer and Book of Common Prayer
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date book published
- 1886
- date corner covers made
- 1887
- inscribed date
- 1888-04-01
- printer
- Eyre and Spottiswoode
- maker
- Gorham Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- DL.033670B
- catalog number
- 33670B
- accession number
- 70138
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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By Land & Water
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1889
- date on illustration
- 1888
- maker
- McLoughlin Bros., Inc.
- ID Number
- 2014.0004.092
- accession number
- 2014.0004
- catalog number
- 2014.0004.092
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Wallet
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1882
- inscribed date
- 1892-01-01
- printed date
- 1898
- 1899
- ID Number
- DL.033647B
- catalog number
- 33647B
- accession number
- 70138
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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