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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Westinghouse tantalum filament "mill" lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Most incandescent lamps were designed for general use in homes and businesses. However, some required special features for use in particular locations. Westinghouse engineers designed this so-called mill lamp for use in factories and other areas subject to high levels of vibration. An intricate internal support structure absorbed vibrations and kept the filament intact for the life of the lamp. Lamps of this type were later sold as rough-service lamps. The filament itself is made from the element tantalum. Invented in 1902, tantalum filament lamps sold in the U.S. until about 1910 when tungsten lamps were introduced.
- Description
- Westinghouse tantalum filament "mill" lamp, circa 1908. Brass medium-screw base with skirt, two glass insulators. Two drawn tantalum filaments (in series) with 12 upper, 22 center, and 10 lower copper support hooks. Crimp connectors, Siemens seal, cotton insulator. Tipped straight-sided envelope. Westinghouse label on lamp reads: “Westinghouse Tantalum [inked 223] V 50 W, patent label in stem: “The manufacturer of this lamp is licensed under patent noted on other side.” “Mar-20-94 516,800 APR-16-95 537,493 APR-28-03 726,293 AND OTHERS H.P.5036”. Stamped on base-skirt: “-PA[T Nov. 08 1]904 [Nov. 22] 1904”. “T” inked on stem, “X22 50” on press, “222- [V?]” in base. Label on top is inked: “47D3 1”.
- date made
- ca 1908
- maker
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
- ID Number
- 2014.0058.05
- accession number
- 2014.0058
- catalog number
- 2014.0058.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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ME&M knife switch
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- EM.336947
- catalog number
- 336947
- accession number
- 1979.0875
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Weatherproof Electric Power Transmission Cable
- Description (Brief)
- The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Cables are designed for many different applications, for example, indoor or outdoor use. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “300,000 [circular mil] cable, [having] the braids saturated with bituminous compound. These cables are intended for overhead wiring."
- date made
- 1897
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.181714
- catalog number
- 181714
- accession number
- 33184
- maker number
- 673
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Electric Power Transmission Cable for Interior Use
- Description (Brief)
- The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Cables are designed for many different applications, for example, indoor or outdoor use. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “500,000 [circular mil] cable, 3/32" rubber insulation, braided. [This cable is] for general use in interior wiring."
- date made
- 1897
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.181711
- catalog number
- 181711
- accession number
- 33184
- maker number
- 670
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Electric Motor for Alternating Current
- Description (Brief)
- An electric motor was one of the critical components needed to make an electrical power system based on alternating current. Electrical inventor Nikola Tesla developed a revolutionary motor based on electromagnetic induction that featured rotating magnetic fields to drive the central armature. Engineers working for George Westinghouse refined Tesla’s concept and introduced this model A two-phase motor in 1888. The armature core is of the Siemens drum-type, a design intended to minimize the number of wire windings.
- Westinghouse 2-phase induction motor marked "M-68". Metal plate reads: " The Westinghouse Electric Co. Pittsburgh, 271". Case has radial fins for heat dissipation. Connection is made through two binding posts on the base. An electrodynamic rotation motor designed by Nikola Tesla, without commutator or contact brushes. A series of field magnets are built of laminated sheet iron and wound with two sets of coils. Two alternating currents are sent through the field at the same time, one a 1/4 phase behind the other. References: Electrical World, vol. 12, 27 October 1888, pages 221-223. Westinghouse Engineer, January 1950, page 72.
- date made
- 1888
- maker
- Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
- ID Number
- EM.315975
- accession number
- 223204
- catalog number
- 315975
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Reddy Kilowatt Hand Puppet
- Description
- This hand puppet of the character “Reddy Kilowatt” has lightning bolts for limbs and a light bulb for a nose. First created in 1926 by Ashton B. Collins of the Alabama Power Company, Reddy Kilowatt served as a licensed spokes-character for privately-owned electric utilities. Designed to put a friendly face on electricity, Reddy was used to advance a variety of electrical messages, first encouraging electricity adoption, then electrical safety and efficiency. Collins also used the character to promote his conservative political views. Reddy appeared in print advertisements, animated shorts, films, TV ads, and a variety of licensed merchandise.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2013.0047.11
- accession number
- 2013.0047
- catalog number
- 2013.0047.11
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Voltage Transformer
- Description (Brief)
- A transformer was one of the critical components needed to make an electrical power system based on alternating current. Transformers raise and lower the electrical voltage (or potential) or the current, depending on the design. Electrical inventors Lucien Gaulard and John Gibbs introduced a practical design in Europe in 1882. George Westinghouse licensed their design and William Stanley, an engineer working in his company, added refinements that improved the device. This potential transformer has two coils of wire–one coil with a few turns of thick wire, the other with many turns of thin wire. A current passing through one (the primary coil) induces a current in the other (the secondary coil). The voltage can be raised or lowered depending on which coil serves as primary.
- date made
- ca 1889
- maker
- Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
- ID Number
- EM.318584
- catalog number
- 318584
- accession number
- 232729
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Electronic Halarc Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Halarc lamp was an attempt by General Electric to produce an energy-efficient replacement for the common, incandescent A-lamp. While other makers focused on developing reliable compact fluorescent lamps, GE decided to miniaturize its metal halide technology. Already successful for street lighting, large metal halide lamps provided good color and excellent energy efficiency. Unfortunately the miniaturized lamps had undesirable performance characteristics such as taking several minutes to come to full-power and changing color emissions. These issues combined with high cost made the lamp a commercial failure.
- date made
- ca 1981
- ID Number
- 1992.0428.01
- catalog number
- 1992.0428.01
- accession number
- 1992.0428
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Electric Power Transmission Cable with Jacket
- Description (Brief)
- The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Modern cables inherit the lessons learned during more than a century of research and experience. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “1,000,000 [circular mil] cable composed of 59 wires, each .1305" in diameter, containing two insulated pressure wires each 2500 C.M. area, the whole insulated with saturated paper 5/32" thick and finished with lead 1/8" thick. This is a feeder cable for circuits not exceeding 2000 volts working pressure on Edison three wire circuits. An outside jacket of tarred jute and asphalt [prevents] corrosion."
- date made
- 1897
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.181708
- catalog number
- 181708
- accession number
- 33184
- maker number
- 1
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Carbon "Stopper" Lamp with Adapter
- Description (Brief)
- Westinghouse made stopper lamps to avoid infringing Edison's patents. The lamp is based on Sawyer-Man patents and includes a removable adapter to allow use of the lamp in both the special sockets made for stopper lamps and standard Westinghouse sockets.
- date made
- ca 1894
- Maker
- Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
- ID Number
- 1997.0388.81
- catalog number
- 1997.0388.81
- accession number
- 1997.0388
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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"New Type Edison" incandescent lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Invention rarely stops when the inventor introduces a new device. Thomas A. Edison and his team worked to improve his electric lighting system for some years after the initial introduction in 1880. This lamp shows changes made after about ten years of labor aimed at lowering costs and increasing production. The simplified base required little material; the diameter and thread-pitch are still used today. The filament was changed from bamboo to a treated cellulose, based on an invention by English chemist Joseph Swan. The bulb was probably free blown by Corning Glass Works, but would soon be replaced by a bulb made by semi-skilled laborers blowing glass into iron molds. The cost had dropped from about $1.00 per lamp to less than 30¢.
- date made
- ca 1886
- ca 1889
- maker
- Edison Lamp Company
- ID Number
- EM.318685
- catalog number
- 318685
- accession number
- 232729
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Electric Power Transmission Cable
- Description (Brief)
- The cables needed to transmit electrical power may seem simple but are actually complex technological artifacts. Modern cables inherit the lessons learned during more than a century of research and experience. This power cable was described by GE engineer William Clark in 1898 as follows: “1,000,000 [circular mil] cable composed of 59 wires, each .1305" in diameter, containing two insulated pressure wires each 2500 C.M. area, the whole insulated with saturated paper 5/32" thick and finished with lead 1/8" thick. This is a feeder cable for circuits not exceeding 2000 volts working pressure on Edison three wire circuits."
- date made
- 1897
- maker
- General Electric Company
- ID Number
- EM.181706
- catalog number
- 181706
- accession number
- 33184
- maker number
- 345
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Philips "Alto" Lamp Electrode Flares
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1995
- maker
- Philips Lighting BV
- ID Number
- 1997.0389.01
- accession number
- 1997.0389
- catalog number
- 1997.0389.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Transistor Samples
- Description (Brief)
- Two early transistors in a sample box distributed by Bell Telephone Labs. Each transistor is a steel, cylindrical can with hole in one side, recessed top, two leads at right angles emerge from the bottom. Printed on top of box: “Bell Telephone Labs. / Transistors / Complimentary Sample / For Experimental Use Only”. One transistor marked: “AP1198”, the other is marked “AP1274”.
- John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley at Bell Telephone Laboratories developed a revolutionary device in 1947: the transistor. Using a semiconductor like germanium, transistors could transmit or amplify electrical currents more reliably and using far less power than vacuum tubes. The Bell Telephone Company provided most of the telephone service in the U.S. at that time but worried about anti-trust regulations should they try to monopolize the transistor invention. So for a licensing fee or $25,000 any company could gain access to transistor technology. This 1948 sample case contains two germanium point-contact transistors “for experimental use only.”
- date made
- ca 1948
- maker
- Bell Telephone Laboratories
- ID Number
- 2003.0231.17
- accession number
- 2003.0231
- catalog number
- 2003.0231.17
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Edison "New Year's Eve" Lamp
- Description
- Thomas Edison used this carbon-filament bulb in the first public demonstration of his most famous invention, the first practical electric incandescent lamp, which took place at his Menlo Park, New Jersey, laboratory on New Year's Eve, 1879.
- As the quintessential American inventor-hero, Edison personified the ideal of the hardworking self-made man. He received a record 1,093 patents and became a skilled entrepreneur. Though occasionally unsuccessful, Edison and his team developed many practical devices in his "invention factory," and fostered faith in technological progress.
- Date made
- 1879
- used date
- 1879-12-31
- user
- Edison, Thomas Alva
- maker
- Edison, Thomas Alva
- ID Number
- EM.181797
- catalog number
- 181797
- accession number
- 33407
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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