Willis Straight Line Meter, 1907-1919

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Artifact Overview

Wattmeters are used to test and measure electric power. Their development and design improvements grew as electric power generation expanded in the late 19th- and early-20th centuries. The Willis Electric Meter Company sold this commutator-type wattmeter in the early 1900s. It was manufactured by the Federal Electric Company of Chicago, Illinois.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Meter (Measuring device)

Date Made

1907-1919

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Wllis Electric Meter Company and distributed by Federal Electric Company, Chicago, Illinois.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

43.141.31

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Consumers Power Company.

Material

Glass (Material)
Metal

Color

Black (Color)
Gold (Color)
Silver (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 9.25 in
Width: 5.75 in
Length: 5.875 in

Inscriptions

In raised letters on glass: WILLIS STRAIGHT LINE METER/ MANUFACTURED BY/ WILLIS ELECTRIC METER CO/ CHICAGO/ FEDERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. CHICAGO, ILL./ SOLE DISTRIBUTERS U.S.A. on plate: PROTECTED BY THE FOLLOWING PATENTS/ APR. 4, 1899 /[...] / NOV. 19, 1907./ OTHER APPLICATIONS FOREIGN & UNITED STATES PENDING/ 110 VOLTS 5 AMPS on readout: KILOWATT HOURS/ 5233 on terminal box: 3567
Willis Straight Line Meter, 1907-1919