Westinghouse Shallenberger Ampere-hour Meter, 1893-1897

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Artifact Overview

Oliver B. Shallenberger, chief electrician at Westinghouse, invented the first successful AC ampere-hour meter in 1888. This meter measures the flow of electric current through a circuit. Early meters like this helped companies that supplied electricity to customers monitor usage and charge appropriate rates. Shallenberger's meter also paved the way for the acceptance of AC power distribution.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Meter (Measuring device)

Date Made

1893-1897

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using the patents of O. B. (Oliver Blackburn) Shallenberger.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

30.1904.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)
Enamel (Fused coating)

Color

Black (Color)
White (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 11 in
Width: 6.5 in
Length: 7 in

Inscriptions

on readout: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MFG. CO./ PITTSBURGH PA. U.S.A./ SHALLENBERGER. METER. 10 AMPERES. NO. 107735/ PATENTED AUG. 14 ;88/ [...]/ JUNE 13 "93.
Westinghouse Shallenberger Ampere-hour Meter, 1893-1897