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- Mutual Electric & Machine Co. Electric Switch, Used on Sugar Island, Detroit River, Michigan, circa 1910 - Switches open or close an electrical circuit to turn things off or on. Knife switches, such as this one, were commonly used on power and lighting switchboards or connected to a motor or generator. This switch was used on Sugar Island in the Detroit River in the early 1900s. The island's powerhouse provided electricity for a dancehall, amusement rides and other amenities.
- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Mutual Electric & Machine Co. Electric Switch, Used on Sugar Island, Detroit River, Michigan, circa 1910
Switches open or close an electrical circuit to turn things off or on. Knife switches, such as this one, were commonly used on power and lighting switchboards or connected to a motor or generator. This switch was used on Sugar Island in the Detroit River in the early 1900s. The island's powerhouse provided electricity for a dancehall, amusement rides and other amenities.
- Bergmann & Company Switch, 1884 - 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.
- 1884
- Collections - Artifact
Bergmann & Company Switch, 1884
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.
- Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company Electric Knife Switch, 1900-1920 - 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.
- 1900-1920
- Collections - Artifact
Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company Electric Knife Switch, 1900-1920
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.
- Interior of Interlocking Tower on the D.T. & I. Railroad, Detroit, Michigan, July 1926 - The operator stationed in this Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad building would have kept busy. This interlocking tower protected the crossing of a DT&I branch with the Detroit United Railway's streetcar line on Jefferson Avenue. The tower operator likely was responsible for activating the railroad crossing gates as well.
- July 02, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Interlocking Tower on the D.T. & I. Railroad, Detroit, Michigan, July 1926
The operator stationed in this Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad building would have kept busy. This interlocking tower protected the crossing of a DT&I branch with the Detroit United Railway's streetcar line on Jefferson Avenue. The tower operator likely was responsible for activating the railroad crossing gates as well.
- Bernstein Electric Company Switch, circa 1886 -
- circa 1886
- Collections - Artifact
Bernstein Electric Company Switch, circa 1886
- Bull Dog Electric Products Co. Switch, circa 1927 - Switches open or close an electrical circuit to turn things off or on. Safety switches, such as this one, were developed to prevent dangerous arcing and limit a worker's exposure to current-carrying parts--and potential injury. Safety switches enclose exposed parts and require an operator to turn off the current before opening the switch boxes.
- circa 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Bull Dog Electric Products Co. Switch, circa 1927
Switches open or close an electrical circuit to turn things off or on. Safety switches, such as this one, were developed to prevent dangerous arcing and limit a worker's exposure to current-carrying parts--and potential injury. Safety switches enclose exposed parts and require an operator to turn off the current before opening the switch boxes.
- Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company Electric Knife Switch, 1900-1920 - 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.
- 1900-1920
- Collections - Artifact
Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company Electric Knife Switch, 1900-1920
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.
- E. S. Greeley & Co. Electric Switch, 1885-1897 -
- 1885-1897
- Collections - Artifact
E. S. Greeley & Co. Electric Switch, 1885-1897
- Electric Knife Switch - 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.
- Collections - Artifact
Electric Knife Switch
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.
- Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company Electric Switch, 1900-1920 - 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.
- 1900-1920
- Collections - Artifact
Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company Electric Switch, 1900-1920
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.