Electric Switch

01

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

Electric switch

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

29.1333.312

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company.

Material

Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Stone (Worked rock)

Color

Black (Color)
Brown
Gold (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 10 in
Width: 14 in
Length: 7 in