Bryant Electric Company Knife Switch, 1888-1927

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

Knife switch

Date Made

1888-1927

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

32.554.8

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Porcelain (Material)
Metal
Wood (Plant material)

Color

White (Color)
Copper (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 5 in
Width: 2.625 in
Length: 2.625 in

Inscriptions

on top of base: 15 AMP. / BRYANT / 125 V. on underside of base: B E Co. / 5133