Edison-Lalande Battery, circa 1887

01

Artifact Overview

A chemical reaction hidden within this battery's white porcelain jar creates electricity. Thomas Edison developed this battery from an earlier design by Felix Lalande and Georges Chaperon. Batteries like this powered fans, phonographs, telephones, and a variety of other devices for years in places where the electric grid did not reach, or electric generators were impractical.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Battery (Electrical)

Date Made

circa 1887

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

35.205.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Fred W. Becker.

Material

Ceramic (Material)
Metal

Color

White (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in
Diameter: 6.5 in

Inscriptions

stamped on top: EDISON-LALANDE BATTERY./ PAT. MAR. 20, 1883,/ OTHER PATENTS APPLIED FOR
Edison-Lalande Battery, circa 1887