Westinghouse Knife Switch, 1920-1930
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Artifact Overview
Switches open or close an electrical circuit to turn things off or on. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, knife switches were commonly found in engine or generating rooms, connected to factory motors, or mounted on a building's power and lighting switchboard. Operators pushed the hinged, metal blades into the switch's jaws to send electricity to where it was needed.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Switch
Date Made
1920-1930
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Likely made by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Collection Title
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
29.1333.318
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company.
Material
Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Color
Brown
Dimensions
Height: 4.5 in
Width: 7.25 in
Length: 15 in
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