General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CAST IRON, STEEL, COPPER, AND POSSIBLY OTHER METAL MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION. COATED FABRIC AND/OR RUBBER COVERING ON WIRES, WINDINGS, ETC. WOODEN FLYWHEEL.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

80.0 cm

Width

72.0 cm

Height

51.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Energy-electric

Category

Generation

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Thomson Houston

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Massachusetts

City

Lynn

Context

Country

North America

State/Province

Unknown

Period

THIS TYPE OF DYNAMO PRESUMABLY USED C. 1880S+

Canada

THOMSON-HOUSTON GENERATORS AND LAMPS WERE USED IN MANY CANADIAN CITIES INCLUDING OTTAWA (1884) AND TORONTO, WHICH HAD ALMOST 1000 ARC LAMPS AND 48 DYNAMOS INSERVICE. ARC-LIGHT SYSTEMS INMONTREAL, QUEBEC, ST. JOHN'S AND HALIFAX ALSO USED THOMSON-HOUSTON EQUIPMENT. (REF. 1)

Function

TO CONVERT MECHANICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY, SPECIFICALLY FOR USE IN SERIES ARC LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

Technical

THIS STYLE OF GENERATOR WAS STANDARD FOR MANY YEARS. IT WAS UNIQUE IN HAVING A SPHERICAL ARMATURE WITH A 3-PART COMMUTATOR REVOLVING BETWEEN THE CUP-SHAPED POLES OF AN INTROVERTED FIELD-MAGNET. OPEN-COIL DYNAMO DESIGN RESULTED IN A CONSTANT-CURRENT DYNAMO WELL SUITED FOR SERIES ARC-LIGHTING. (REF. 1)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Red dymo tape label on generator reads "M..C.1.4". Plate on regulator reads "AUTOMATIC REGULATOR NO. 5048/ PATENTED FEB. 10. 1881. JULY 24. 1882/ PATENTS APPLIED FOR"."GENERAL ELECTRIC/ COMPANY/ T-H SYSTEM" and "C12L" stamped into brush holders. Some individual small parts/fittings bear individual casting or model numbers.

Missing

BRUSHES AND PARTS OF BRUSH SYSTEM ARE MISSING. OTHER PARTS MAY ALSO BE MISSING.

Finish

BLACK ENAMEL FINISH ON MOST EXTERIOR SURFACES. COATED WINDINGS AND WIRES ARE PAINTED RED-BROWN. SOME METAL COMPONENTS HAVE NATURAL FINISH.

Decoration

N/A