General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Black slate panel; metal (including brass & copper), wood, synthetic, ceramic, fabric and glass components.

Dimensions

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

Length

61.0 cm

Width

35.0 cm

Height

158.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Energy-electric

Category

Regulation & transformation

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

General Electric

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Peterborough

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

This version of panel used c. 1901/2 +. Dismantled and removed from operation c. 1963/4.

Canada

The Sault Ste. Marie Canal was converted to electrical operation in 1895, largely in an effort to maximize efficiency during cold weather when traffic through the Canal was heaviest. The contract for the electrical plant, and the installation of an electric lighting system for the canal and powerhouse was awarded to Canadian General Electric Co. of Toronto and Peterborough, Ont. When completed, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal was the first ship canal in the world to be electrically operated, and the first to be totally electrified with electric power and lighting along the entire canal. (Ref. 3, pp. 93-150)

Function

To house the 110-volt incandescent lighting circuit controls for the switchboard in the Sault Ste. Marie Canal powerhouse.

Technical

Installed on the front left side of the powerhouse switchboard, this panel housed the 110-volt incandescent lighting circuit controls. As on the other panels, this one had all meters, circuit breakers, and other controls grouped on the front, and the dangerous live wiring rear-connected to enhance safety and improve the appearance of the switchboard. Original panel configuration in 1895 was substantially different from this later, modified version, which dates to c. 1901/2.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Meter mounted on front left of panel marked on face "WHITNEY ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO./ VOLTMETER/ FOR CONTINUOUS CURRENT/ SHERBROOKE, QUE./ PATENT APPLIED FOR./ NO. [blank]". Scale, above, labelled "10". Meter mounted on front right side of panel marked on face "WHITNEY ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO./ AM-METER/ FOR CONTINUOUS CURRENT/ SHERBROOKE, QUE./ PATENT APPLIED FOR./ NO. 72 [?]". Scale, above, is unlabelled. Panel component mounted on upper right front [transformer ?] bears paper label reading in part "[blank]/ AMPS/ EAGLE [logo[/ 600/ [blank]/ N.E.C. ENCLOSED FUSE".

Missing

Unknown. Porcelain collar on centrally-mounted light is damaged: portion missing. Lower left corner of slab is broken off and missing. Lamp bulb and/or shade missing from fixture mounted on panel. The support nut from the right lamp fixture ( on panel .003 ) is missing. Piece of cornace missing on top/right side. Bolt missing from the bottom/left hole on the right ampmeter on the centre panel .002. There are probably heavy steel bars missing from the centre of the wall panel .004, to hold the centre slate panel and the inside edges of the other two panels.

Finish

Black slate panel; metal (including brass & copper), wood, synthetic, porcelain, fabric and glass components.

Decoration

N/A