wattmeter
Datecirca 1940
Inventory Number0558
ClassificationWattmeter
Subject
Maker
General Electric Company
1892-present
User
Harvard University Department of Physics
founded 1726
User
Emory Leon Chaffee
1885 - 1975
User
Robert Irving Sarbacher
1907 - 1986
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions24.6 x 20.8 x 20.8 cm (9 11/16 x 8 3/16 x 8 3/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA wattmeter, in a molded bakelite housing, mounted in a wooden box. Instrument contains moving coil within coils on a short strip suspension. 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 0-30, a mirrored strip below the scale and an indicator needle can be seen through the window. Two binding posts are mounted on the left side of the bakelite housing, marked "0" and "200"; three clamp screws are mounted on the right side, used to secure wires; one is marked "0" and ".5"
Inventory card tag reads: "string suspension, dual coil cylindrical laminated isolation".
Inventory card tag reads: "string suspension, dual coil cylindrical laminated isolation".
Signedprinted on a plaque centered below the instrument display window: WATTMETER / GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. / SCHENECTADY, N.Y.
printed below the scale: GENERAL [GE logo] ELECTRIC
Inscribedan orange square is painted on face of instrument; according to card instrument has a second orange square painted on.
Curatorial RemarksWas first incorrectly catalogued as 1997-1-0212, so slide shows it with that number.
NOTE: Tag on instrument 1997-1-1077 says: "HOLD for Photo & Parts". On card for 0558, picture of 1997-1-1077 is included (but the serial number in picture doesn't match what is written on card), possibly as example of what real instrument looks like without case & face plate. See 1997-1-1077, series #11785.
FunctionFor measuring the power consumption of a circuit. Alternating Current (A.C.).
ProvenanceAccording to slip of paper once attached to instrument, this instrument was retrieved from the Lyman Laboratory (Physics, Harvard) attic. The painted square indicates that this instrument was acquired by Professor Chaffee.
Original remark: "from Lyman Attic 1/13/72 with Prof. Ed Chaffeee mark".
Historical AttributesPurchased by Professor E. Leon Chaffee, and also used on Bob Sarbacher's project on power tubes. (According to Card).
Siemens & Halske AG
Date: 1897-1903
Accessories: wooden case
Object number: 0273a,b
Rawson Electrical Instrument Company
Date: circa 1930
Object number: 0428
Siemens & Halske AG
Date: 1897-1903
Accessories: wooden box
Object number: 0272a,b,c,d
General Electric Company
Date: late 19th-early 21st Century
Object number: 1997-1-1077
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
Date: 1890-1920
Object number: 0313
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0505
See also/See also
