Thomas Edison and Charles Steinmetz Examining Porcelain Insulators Destroyed by Artificial Lightning, General Electric Research Laboratory, 1922

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Artifact Overview

Charles Steinmetz's electrochemical and high-voltage research at General Electric attracted public attention. The press portrayed Steinmetz as a scientific "wizard" and sensationalized his technical work for popular audiences. During a highly publicized visit in 1922, Thomas Edison observed a lightning generator Steinmetz developed to test new electrical equipment. Newspapers hailed Steinmetz as a "modern Jove," creator of artificial lightning.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

23 October 1922

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

P.B.23399

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in
Width: 10 in