Thomson-Houston Recording Wattmeter, circa 1889

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Artifact Overview

Elihu Thomson, engineer, inventor and cofounder of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, developed a commutator-type wattmeter in the late 1880s. His recording watt-hour meter helped transform the nascent electric power industry. The sturdy device provided companies that supplied electricity to consumers a way to accurately track and bill electrical power use.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Wattmeter

Date Made

circa 1889

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

31.1217.224

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edison Laboratories.

Material

Nitrocellulose
Metal

Color

Gray (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 10 in
Width: 9 in
Length: 8.5 in

Inscriptions

on readout: THOMSON RECORDING WATT METER/ MANUFACTURED BY THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC CO./ LYNN, MASS. U.S.A./ Watt hrs. stamped on framework: 8474
Thomson-Houston Recording Wattmeter, circa 1889