Thomson indicating wattmeter
Datedate 1896
Inventory Number0423
ClassificationWattmeter
Subject
Maker
General Electric Company
1892-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions9 × 16 × 14 cm (3 9/16 × 6 5/16 × 5 1/2 in.)
Material
DescriptionA General Electric indicating wattmeter in a fan-shaped black metal case, mounted on a square wooden base. The face of the meter has two heavy binding posts and three cylindrical bakelite posts (one marked "75") and two push buttons. The instrument case has a protruding half-dome centered at the bottom, beneath which the instrument coil is housed.
The instrument has an irregular, fan-shaped display window, through which the instrument's scale and a needle-shaped indicator may be seen. The scale has two sets of calibrations, one from 0-75 and the other from 0-150. Below the scale is an arc-shaped reflecting mirror.
Description from original card: "Small fan shaped meter black metal case on a rectangular wood base with two heavy current binding posts and 3 smaller bakelite posts (one marked 75) and two press buttons. Scale 4 1/2'' paper with strip mirror & 2 hand calibrated scales one 0-75 and above it 0-150 each cramped at both ends. Knife edge pointer. Another identical instrument 0561 (54615)."
The instrument has an irregular, fan-shaped display window, through which the instrument's scale and a needle-shaped indicator may be seen. The scale has two sets of calibrations, one from 0-75 and the other from 0-150. Below the scale is an arc-shaped reflecting mirror.
Description from original card: "Small fan shaped meter black metal case on a rectangular wood base with two heavy current binding posts and 3 smaller bakelite posts (one marked 75) and two press buttons. Scale 4 1/2'' paper with strip mirror & 2 hand calibrated scales one 0-75 and above it 0-150 each cramped at both ends. Knife edge pointer. Another identical instrument 0561 (54615)."
Signedprinted on instrument display: GENERAL ELECTRIC INSTRUMENT CO.
Inscribedprinted on base of scale: THOMSON INDICATING WATTMETER / NO. 54514 / POTENTIAL LIMIT 150 VOLTS / CURRENT LIMIT 2 AMPS. / GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. / SCHENECTADY, N.Y. U.S.A. / PATENTED FEB. 11 '96;
binding post marked: 75
Curatorial RemarksNearly identical to instrument no. 0561 (54615).
Missing screws holding box together.
Feb. 11.(18)'96
FunctionMeasures the power consumption of a circuit.
ProvenanceFrom the Physics Department, Harvard University. Jefferson Laboratory. 12/11/63.
Historical AttributesBlue triangle indicates that this instrument was used for teaching in the Physics Department, course Physics 3, in the 1920s.
General Electric Company
Date: 1909-1930
Accessories: the inside of the lid contains two standardization certificates, one by A.S. Mancib (Somerville, MA), the other by Weston Electric (Newark).
Object number: 1997-1-1037
Rawson Electrical Instrument Company
Date: circa 1930
Object number: 0428
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
Date: 1911
Accessories: shunt (0438b)
Object number: 0438a
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
Date: late 19th Century
Accessories: 0269b (which is a multiplier for 0269a)
Object number: 0269a
See also/See also
