Westinghouse Shallenberger Ampere-hour Meter, 1888-1890

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Artifact Overview

Oliver B. Shallenberger, chief electrician at Westinghouse, invented the first successful AC ampere-hour meter in 1888. This meter measures the flow of electric current through a circuit. Early meters like this helped companies that supplied electricity to customers monitor usage and charge appropriate rates. Shallenberger's meter also paved the way for the acceptance of AC power distribution.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Meter (Measuring device)

Date Made

1888-1890

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using the patents of O. B. (Oliver Blackburn) Shallenberger.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

29.1333.4

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company.

Material

Metal
Brass (Alloy)

Color

Black (Color)
Gold (Color)
White (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 9 in
Width: 6.25 in
Length: 7 in

Inscriptions

on plate: NO. 11586/ WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO./ PITTSBURGH PENNA. U.S.A./ O. B. SHALLENBERGER'S PATENTS/ AUGUST 14 1888./ NO. 388003 & 388004/ CAPACITY 40 AMPERS on readout: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO./ PITTSBURGH PA U.S.A./ O. B. SHALLENBERGER'S/ PATENTS NO'S 388003/ AUG. 14, 1888 388004/ NO. 11586 CAPACITY 40 AMPS