model electromagnetic locomotive
Datecirca 1855
Inventory NumberDW0828
ClassificationLocomotive Model
Subject
Maker
C. Limb & Ch. Gianotti
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions18.5 × 30 × 14 cm (7 5/16 × 11 13/16 × 5 1/2 in.)
Material
DescriptionA small electric motor mounted on a black-painted wooden carriage. The carriage site on four black-painted wooden wheels with brass flanges. The two back wheels are about twice the diameter of the front wheels. The front wheels are spoked and the back wheels are solid wood. The flange of one back wheel (the drive wheel) has teeth that are geared to the rotor of the motor. There is a brass cylinder with a tapered base attached to the front and to the back of the wooden carriage. Each cylinder has a J-shaped track cut from the top rim in the front and the back.
The motor itself is lodged in a, now largely rusted, iron frame in the shape of an "H" on its side. The black, spoked motor rotor is lodged in the center of the frame with brass fixtures on both sides. One side is connected to the brass gearing that is connected to the drive wheel. There is a tightly wound coil of yellow insulated wire on each side of the motor, held in the iron frame by large iron screws on the top. There is a red, rectangular block centered on the top of the motor. It has four brass fixtures on the top, two taller on the outside and two shorter in the center. Each of the tall fixtures is connected to the bottom of the motor by a coiling insulated wire. There are three screws in one of the side edges of the rectangular block. They are also connected with insulated wire to various parts of the motor.
The motor itself is lodged in a, now largely rusted, iron frame in the shape of an "H" on its side. The black, spoked motor rotor is lodged in the center of the frame with brass fixtures on both sides. One side is connected to the brass gearing that is connected to the drive wheel. There is a tightly wound coil of yellow insulated wire on each side of the motor, held in the iron frame by large iron screws on the top. There is a red, rectangular block centered on the top of the motor. It has four brass fixtures on the top, two taller on the outside and two shorter in the center. Each of the tall fixtures is connected to the bottom of the motor by a coiling insulated wire. There are three screws in one of the side edges of the rectangular block. They are also connected with insulated wire to various parts of the motor.
Signedengraved on brass plate screwed to top of instrument carriage: DYNAMO MOTEUR / C. LIMB & Ch. GIANOTTI / Ch. GIANOTTI Constructeur / LYON
FunctionThe motor transfers electricity into the mechanical motion of the rotor that, through the gearing, rotates the drive wheel moving the wooden carriage.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Alain Brieux, Paris, July 13, 1962 (lot 7/12).
Hans W. Egli
Date: circa 1925
Accessories: brush
Object number: 1996-1-0166
French
Date: 1855-1890
Accessories: box of feet for base
4 feet consisting of brass strips with screw holes at either end and iron points
8 screws, somewhat rusted
Object number: DW0329
Adrien Gavard
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: hinged mahogany case with original trade label; extra arm; writing implements; instrument weights; small ivory wheels with brass frames
Object number: 1997-1-1856
Benjamin Martin
Date: circa 1766
Accessories: rope cord belt
glass globe
conducting pad
in folder: photographs, page containing description, history, and discussion of design, note from Ebenezer Gay regarding conservation work, excerpt from David Pingree Wheatland and I. Bernard Cohen, A Catalogue of Some Early Scientific Instruments at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, 1949), woodcut with picture of instrument from B. Martin, Young Gentleman and Lady's Philosophy (1759): 139.
X-ray images of parts of the machine can be found in C1-A7.
Object number: 0013
