Willis Straight Line Wattmeter, 1907-1919

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Artifact Overview

Wattmeters are used to test and measure electric power. Their development and design improvements grew as electric power generation expanded in the late 19th- and early-20th centuries. The Willis Electric Meter Company sold this commutator-type wattmeter in the early 1900s. It was manufactured by the Federal Electric Company of Chicago, Illinois.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Wattmeter

Date Made

1907-1919

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Willis Electric Meter Company and distributed by Federal Electric Company, Chicago, Illinois.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

40.220.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Stuart L. Miller.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)
Rubber (Material)

Color

Silver (Color)
Black (Color)
Gold (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 10 in
Width: 5.875 in
Length: 5.5 in

Inscriptions

on face: WILLIS "STRAIGHT LINE"/ MANUFACTURED BY/ WILLIS ELECTRIC METER CO/ CHICAGO/ FEDERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY/ CHICAGO, ILL./ SOLE DISTRIBUTERS U.S.A. embossed on bottom: 5400/ SERVICE LOAD
Willis Straight Line Wattmeter, 1907-1919