Thomson-Houston Type A Lightning Arrester, 1885-1892

01

Artifact Overview

In the late 1800s, companies began producing electricity to light cities, run streetcars, and power factories, homes and offices. A potential danger to this power system and its apparatus was lightning and other large discharges of electricity. A lightning arrester diverts the surges and protects valuable equipment from damage.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Lightning-arrester

Date Made

1885-1892

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

28.310.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Twin City Transit Company.

Material

Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Wire
Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Brown
Black (Color)
Red
Gold (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 6.75 in
Width: 9.75 in
Length: 12.5 in

Inscriptions

on plate: THOMSON/ LIGHTNING ARRESTER/ NO. 8418 TYPE A/ PATENTED JULY 7, '85/ MANUFACTURED BY/ THOMSON-HOUSTON ELEC. CO./ LYNN, MASS. U.S.A.