Search
- National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900 - Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- 1886-1900
- Collections - Artifact
National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900
Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900 - Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- 1886-1900
- Collections - Artifact
National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900
Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- Beck Twin Compound Engine, circa 1890 -
- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Beck Twin Compound Engine, circa 1890
- National Carbon Company Plain Forced Arc Light Carbons, 1886-1900 - Carbon rods, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced rods, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon rods virtually obsolete.
- 1886-1900
- Collections - Artifact
National Carbon Company Plain Forced Arc Light Carbons, 1886-1900
Carbon rods, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced rods, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon rods virtually obsolete.
- Employees in the Ketchup Department, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1910 - Before complete mechanization of the manufacturing process, many tasks at the Heinz factory were done by hand. The H. J. Heinz Company documented the many departments of the manufacturing process through photographs. This photograph shows employees working in the Ketchup Department.
- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Employees in the Ketchup Department, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1910
Before complete mechanization of the manufacturing process, many tasks at the Heinz factory were done by hand. The H. J. Heinz Company documented the many departments of the manufacturing process through photographs. This photograph shows employees working in the Ketchup Department.
- Woman Using Time Clock at the Main Plant, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1911 - Employees at the H.J. Heinz Company main plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began and ended their workdays in the Time Office. Henry Heinz himself worked to design and construct this building, referred to by the company as "a combination of elegance, splendor and beauty." Here you can see the row of time clocks where employees would check in and out for work each day.
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Woman Using Time Clock at the Main Plant, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1911
Employees at the H.J. Heinz Company main plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began and ended their workdays in the Time Office. Henry Heinz himself worked to design and construct this building, referred to by the company as "a combination of elegance, splendor and beauty." Here you can see the row of time clocks where employees would check in and out for work each day.
- Carbon Filament Block, circa 1895 -
- circa 1895
- Collections - Artifact
Carbon Filament Block, circa 1895
- Electrical Wiring with Cleats and Switch, Used at Boone Electric Light Company, 1885 -
- 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Electrical Wiring with Cleats and Switch, Used at Boone Electric Light Company, 1885
- Invitation Sent to Members of "The City Government" for a Lighting Exhibition at Menlo Park Laboratory, December 18, 1880 -
- December 18, 1880
- Collections - Artifact
Invitation Sent to Members of "The City Government" for a Lighting Exhibition at Menlo Park Laboratory, December 18, 1880
- Bergmann & Company Light Socket Used at Boone Electric Light Company, 1885 - A light socket provides a secure connection between an incandescent electric lamp and the electrical circuit. In the late 19th century, companies created lamp bulb bases with unique styles and sizes which would only fit sockets that they made. By 1910 the Edison screw-type base had become so popular it was virtually an industry standard, and consumers no longer had to buy lamps and sockets from the same manufacturer.
- 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Bergmann & Company Light Socket Used at Boone Electric Light Company, 1885
A light socket provides a secure connection between an incandescent electric lamp and the electrical circuit. In the late 19th century, companies created lamp bulb bases with unique styles and sizes which would only fit sockets that they made. By 1910 the Edison screw-type base had become so popular it was virtually an industry standard, and consumers no longer had to buy lamps and sockets from the same manufacturer.