Edison Tasimeter, 1878

01

Artifact Overview

This tasimeter is a heat-measuring device, invented by Thomas Edison. On July 29, 1878, Edison travelled to Wyoming as part of the "Draper Expedition" to study a total solar eclipse along its path of totality. Mounting a tasimeter to a telescope, Edison conducted experiments to measure the energy levels of the sun's corona, amplified by the eclipse.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Tasimeter

Date Made

1878

Location

at Greenfield Village in Menlo Park Laboratory

Object ID

29.1980.288

Credit

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

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Steel
Carbon
Rubber

Dimensions

Height: 4.75 in
Width: 5.813 in
Length: 5 in