electric generator
Datecirca 1890
Inventory NumberDW0083
ClassificationGenerator
Subject
Maker
French
?
Cultural Region
Dimensions23 × 35 × 12.9 cm (9 1/16 × 13 3/4 × 5 1/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionThe generator is mounted on a rectangular wooden platform with beveled edges, raised slightly at each corner. At one edge of the platform is a cylindrical black pole. A black flywheel with six spokes is attached to the top of the pole. There is a crank with a wooden handle fixed to one of the spokes. Users manually rotate the flywheel with the hand crank, providing the necessary mechanical motion to power the generator.
Next to the flywheel, half of a large fixed iron horseshoe magnet is visible above the platform. The other half passes underneath. The two ends of the horseshoe magnet are attached by a curved metal tape. In between the two ends of the magnet are two tightly wound coils of wire on a horizontal axle. The coils are covered in black insulation. A rusted metal chain is geared onto the axle of the coils, and then wraps the entire circumference of the flywheel on a grooved track such that, when the flywheel is rotated, the coils will be made to spin. A hole is cut out of the base plate, and a rounded groove is cut into each inside edge of the horseshoe to permit the coils to spin.
At the opposite edge of the base plate from the chain are two brass poles. Each has a textured thumb screw at the top and a small hole through the side. They are connectors from which users can harvest the electrical current produced.
Next to the flywheel, half of a large fixed iron horseshoe magnet is visible above the platform. The other half passes underneath. The two ends of the horseshoe magnet are attached by a curved metal tape. In between the two ends of the magnet are two tightly wound coils of wire on a horizontal axle. The coils are covered in black insulation. A rusted metal chain is geared onto the axle of the coils, and then wraps the entire circumference of the flywheel on a grooved track such that, when the flywheel is rotated, the coils will be made to spin. A hole is cut out of the base plate, and a rounded groove is cut into each inside edge of the horseshoe to permit the coils to spin.
At the opposite edge of the base plate from the chain are two brass poles. Each has a textured thumb screw at the top and a small hole through the side. They are connectors from which users can harvest the electrical current produced.
Signedunsigned
FunctionGenerators convert mechanical motion into electrical current. Manually cranking the flywheel causes the coils to spin. The spinning coils in the presence of a fixed magnetic field generates an electric current in the wire. The wire is connected to two brass connectors along one edge of the platform from which users can harness the electricity.
A hand-written card accompanying the instrument indicates that it was probably used to power a small medical instrument.
A hand-written card accompanying the instrument indicates that it was probably used to power a small medical instrument.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Roux-Devillas Paris, May 14, 1966 (lot 5/51).
American
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: flywheel (DW0085b)
Object number: DW0085a
Central Scientific Company
Date: circa 1920
Object number: 1998-1-0200
Charles Chardin
Date: 1870-1900
Accessories: key; mahogany case
Object number: DW0829
French
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: protecting case with glass window
Object number: DW0095
Louis Heinrici
Date: 1876-1920
Accessories: small can of Sterno canned heat cooling fuel
Object number: 1998-1-0080
Davies Charlton Ltd.
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: original cardboard box
Object number: DW0337
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