Westinghouse Type A Circuit Breaker, circa 1904

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Artifact Overview

In the late 1800s, as companies began producing electricity to light cities, run streetcars, and power factories, homes and offices, new apparatus was needed to safely deliver and use electricity. Excess current in a circuit could damage electric lines and equipment. Circuit breakers protected electrical circuits by automatically interrupting the power flow during an event overload.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Circuit breaker

Date Made

circa 1904

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

29.1333.289

Credit

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

Material

Marble (Rock)
Copper alloy

Color

White (Color)
Gray (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 18.25 in
Width: 10 in
Length: 16.5 in

Inscriptions

on attached plaque: No 142 on plate: WESTINGHOUSE ELEC. & M'F'G CO/ PITTSBURGH PA./ PATENTED/ WURTS OCT. 29 '89/ LANGE & SHALLENBERGER AUG. 12 '90/ LANGE AUG. 12 '90/ OTHER PATENTS PENDING
Westinghouse Type A Circuit Breaker, circa 1904