Perkins Electric Switch Mfg. Co. Knife Switch with Bryant Electric Co. Fuse Block, 1888-1927
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Artifact Overview
Switches open or close an electrical circuit to turn things off or on. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, knife switches were commonly found in engine or generating rooms, connected to factory motors, or mounted on a building's power and lighting switchboard. Operators pushed the hinged, metal blades into the switch's jaws to send electricity to where it was needed.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Knife switch
Date Made
1888-1927
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Switch and fuse block manufactured in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by the Perkins Electric Switch Manufacturing Company and Bryant Electric Company respectively.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2017.0.34.1023
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Metal
Porcelain (Material)
Stone (Worked rock)
Wood (Plant material)
Wire
Cloth
Color
Black (Color)
White (Color)
Copper (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 3 in
Width: 5.375 in
Length: 17 in
Inscriptions
on sides of switch:
PERKINS / 100 AMP 250 V D.C. / 500 V A.C.
on top of fuse block:
BRYANT / 87-60 A 850 V
on bottom of fuse block:
BRYANT / 5031
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