Edison Chemical Meter, circa 1883
THF165640 / Edison Chemical Meter, circa 1883
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Artifact Overview
To make money selling electricity, Thomas Edison had to know how much his customers used. This meter used electricity to plate zinc onto electrodes. By weighing the electrodes to see how much zinc had accumulated, Edison's company could calculate how much electricity was being used. Meters like this remained in service in some installations well into the 1890s.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Meter (Measuring device)
Date Made
circa 1883
Creators
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Likely made by Bergmann & Company, New York, New York.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
29.1980.277
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Edison Pioneers.
Material
Metal
Glass (Material)
Lead (Metal)
Color
Black (Color)
Silver (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 11.4 in
Width: 8.25 in
Length: 4.75 in
Inscriptions
on side of meter:
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on handwritten label inside:
Test 20-21 Feby. 1890/ A side Legal ohm 106-0/ Strip o-00g , 6/ Skord ourres 8-075/ @22° C/ Edison laboratory/ A. E. K.
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