Fort Wayne Type K Wattmeter, 1899-1901

01

Artifact Overview

In the late 1800s, companies that supplied electricity to consumers needed a way to measure how much customers used -- and then charge them accordingly. Inventive electrical engineers developed various methods to measure electric power. Induction meters that employed magnetic fields to rotate a disc or cylinder to register energy usage would become the standard. Continued improvements made these wattmeters more compact and reliable.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Wattmeter

Date Made

1899-1901

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

43.141.99

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Consumers Power Company.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)

Color

Black (Color)
White (Color)
Silver (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in
Width: 6.5 in
Length: 6.75 in

Inscriptions

on plate: FORT WAYNE ELECTRIC WORKS/ FORT WAYNE, IND., U.S.A./ TYPE K SINGLE PHASE WATTMETER/FORM SAD CLASS 2-110 AMP. 5 CYCLES 60/ NO. 348157 on readout: KILOWATT HOURS stenciled in white on bottom: 7888 B in white on front: J-147
Fort Wayne Type K Wattmeter, 1899-1901