wattmeter
Datecirca 1940
Inventory Number0559
ClassificationWattmeter
Subject
Maker
General Electric Company
1892-present
User
Harvard University Department of Physics
founded 1726
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions25 × 20.9 × 20.8 cm (9 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 8 3/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA wattmeter, in a molded bakelite housing, mounted in a wooden box, supported by four button-style feet. Instrument contains a single coil suspended on wire between two fixed coils.
The bakelite housing has a raised, fan-shaped area with a handle or switch centered below an arc-shaped instrument display window. The instrument scale, marked from 0-50, a mirrored strip below the scale and an indicator needle can be seen through the window. Three binding posts are mounted on the left side of the bakelite housing, marked "200," "400" and "0." Below them there is a knob with an arrow on the end labeled, "Rev" "Off" and "Dir." Three clamp screws are mounted on the right side, used to secure wires; one is marked ".4" and ".2"
The bakelite housing has a raised, fan-shaped area with a handle or switch centered below an arc-shaped instrument display window. The instrument scale, marked from 0-50, a mirrored strip below the scale and an indicator needle can be seen through the window. Three binding posts are mounted on the left side of the bakelite housing, marked "200," "400" and "0." Below them there is a knob with an arrow on the end labeled, "Rev" "Off" and "Dir." Three clamp screws are mounted on the right side, used to secure wires; one is marked ".4" and ".2"
Signedprinted on a plaque centered below the instrument display window: WATTMETER / GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. / SCHENECTADY, N.Y.
FunctionFor measuring the power consumption of a circuit. Alternating Current (A.C.).
ProvenanceFrom the Lyman Laboratory (Physics, Harvard) attic, 1/13/72.
Rawson Electrical Instrument Company
Date: circa 1930
Object number: 0428
Siemens & Halske AG
Date: 1897-1903
Accessories: wooden case
Object number: 0273a,b
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
Date: 1890-1920
Object number: 0313
General Electric Company
Date: late 19th-early 21st Century
Object number: 1997-1-1077
