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 1482
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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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Wax Taper Matches
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- ID Number
- DL.380825C
- catalog number
- 380825C
- accession number
- 156797
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Wax Taper Matches
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- ID Number
- DL.380825B
- catalog number
- 380825B
- accession number
- 156797
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Safety Matches
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- ID Number
- DL.175961
- catalog number
- 175961
- accession number
- 31372
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Friction Matches
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1850 - 1880
- ID Number
- DL.376790
- catalog number
- 376790
- accession number
- 136485
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Toda Especie Oil
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1884
- ID Number
- MG.002673
- catalog number
- 002673
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Patent Model for Bellows
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- patent date
- 1880-05-25
- inventor
- Smith, David B.
- ID Number
- DL.329541
- catalog number
- 329541
- patent number
- 228,131
- accession number
- 88881
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Skimmer
- Description
- Circular skimmer, flat at center, attached on back with three rivets to a offset handle, rectangular in section, wider at top with bent-back hook; all rivets domed on front and back. Bowl is perforated with small holes arranged into five concentric circles around one hole at center. Back of handle is stamped incuse "F.B.S.CANTON.O." and "PAT.JAN.26.86" in sans serif letters.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1886 or later
- patent date
- 1886-01-26
- ID Number
- 1978.0404.03
- accession number
- 1978.0404
- catalog number
- 1978.0404.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
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
-
Coffeepot
- Description
- Conical coffeepot with a domed, hinged lid topped by a ribbed-edge knop. Tapered, D- or ear-shaped strap handle is soft-soldered to the body at its wire rim and folded vertical seam opposite the straight tapered spout with flat lip and soft-soldered lapped seam. Raised double bead around upper body; body perforated at spout. Attached flat bottom with folded edge. No marks.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1830 - 1880
- ID Number
- DL.389128
- catalog number
- 389128
- accession number
- 182022
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pantry Box
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1830 - 1880
- ID Number
- DL.305626.0001
- catalog number
- 305626.0001
- accession number
- 305626
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
engine
- date made
- 1880s
- maker
- Weedon Manufacturing Co.
- ID Number
- DL.68.0513
- catalog number
- 68.0513
- accession number
- 274913
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Lobelia, Oil of
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1883
- maker
- McKesson and Robbins
- ID Number
- MG.053184
- catalog number
- 053184
- accession number
- 13128
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sodium Carbonate?
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1882
- maker
- Parke, Davis and Company
- ID Number
- MG.052754
- catalog number
- 052754
- accession number
- 11725
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Strychnia Powder
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1889
- maker
- Powers and Weightman
- ID Number
- MG.141763.01
- catalog number
- 141763
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Strychnia Powder
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1889
- maker
- Powers and Weightman
- ID Number
- MG.141763.02
- catalog number
- 141763
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Opium, Powdered
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1882
- maker
- W. H. Schieffelin and Company
- ID Number
- MG.050285
- catalog number
- 050285
- accession number
- 10696
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Glass Christmas Ornament
- Description
- Molded glass holiday or Christmas ornament or Kugel. Ball, thick glass, mirrored silver with bent wire hook inserted into top opening. No cap. No mark.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1850-1880
- ID Number
- DL.298065.0287
- catalog number
- 298065.0287
- accession number
- 298065
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Glass Christmas Ornament
- Description
- Molded glass holiday or Christmas ornament or Kugel. Ball, thick glass mirrored silver, with embossed metal cap and circular metal holder. No mark.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1850-1880
- ID Number
- DL.298065.0286
- catalog number
- 298065.0286
- accession number
- 298065
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Glass Christmas Ornament
- Description
- Molded glass holiday or Christmas ornament or Kugel. Ball, thick glass, mirrored silver finish, with metal cap, embossed with leaf design, circular metal holder, bent wire hook attached. No mark.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1850-1880
- ID Number
- DL.298065.0284
- catalog number
- 298065.0284
- accession number
- 298065
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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