General Electric Thomson Recording Wattmeter, circa 1903
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
circa 1903
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
29.115.12
Credit
From the Collections of the Henry Ford. Gift of Buffalo, Niagara & Eastern Power Co.
Material
Metal
Glass (Material)
Color
Black (Color)
White (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 11 in
Width: 10.75 in
Length: 9 in
Inscriptions
on plate:
THOMSON RECORDING WATTMETER/ 3 WIRE/ NO 649243 CAT. NO. 9476/ AMPERES 50/ VOLTS 200-220/ GENERAL ELECTRIC CO./ SCHENECTADY, N.Y., U.S.A.
on readout:
KILOWATT HOURS
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