Thomson-Houston Recording Wattmeter, 1889-1892

01

Artifact Overview

Elihu Thomson, engineer, inventor and cofounder of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, developed a commutator-type wattmeter in the late 1880s. His recording watt-hour meter helped transform the nascent electric power industry. The sturdy device provided companies that supplied electricity to consumers a way to accurately track and bill electrical power use.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Wattmeter

Date Made

1889-1892

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

00.364.26

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Columbia University.

Material

Metal
Wood (Plant material)

Color

Brown
Gray (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 9.5 in
Width: 9 in
Length: 8 in

Inscriptions

stamped on framework: 6072