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Westinghouse Shallenberger Ampere-hour Meter, 1888-1890

THF164007 / Westinghouse Shallenberger Ampere-hour Meter, 1888-1890
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Artifact Overview

Oliver B. Shallenberger, chief electrician at Westinghouse, invented the first successful AC ampere-hour meter in 1888. This meter measures the flow of electric current through a circuit. Early meters like this helped companies that supplied electricity to customers monitor usage and charge appropriate rates. Shallenberger's meter also paved the way for the acceptance of AC power distribution.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Meter (Measuring device)

Date Made

1888-1890

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using the patents of O. B. (Oliver Blackburn) Shallenberger.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

00.721.30

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Thomas A. Edison.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)

Color

Black (Color)
White (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 8.75 in
Width: 6.5 in
Length: 8 in

Inscriptions

on plate: NO. 20704/ WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO./ PITTSBURGH PENNA. U.S.A./ O. B. SHALLENBERGER PATENTS/ AUG. 14 1888/ NO. 388003 & 388004/ CAPACITY 20 AMPERS on readout: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CO./ PITTSBURGH PA. U.S.A./ O. B. SHALLENBERGER'S PATENTS NO'S 388003. 388004/ AUG. 14, 1888./ NO 20704 CAPACITY 20 AMP'S
Westinghouse Shallenberger Ampere-hour Meter, 1888-1890