Lighting

Oil lamps were the predominant source of artificial light in the the early 19th century. Lighting them was difficult, however, until the widespread availability of matches around the middle of the century. In the meantime, a number of creative approaches were tried, with varying degrees of success. This device, called a platinum sponge lighter, utilized a small piece of platinum similar to steel wool suspended in a glass enclosure. When hydrogen gas was allowed into the container, the platinum would spontaneously burst into flame, igniting the hydrogen, which appeared as a small jet of flame. The small alcohol lamp in the foreground was then ignited from this flame. Once the alcohol lamp was burning, the hydrogen fire was extinguished. The alcohol lamp could then be carried throughout the building, to light the oil lamps.

Unfortunately the apparatus was tricky to operate, and the wrong mix of hydrogen and air would result in an explosion. Perhaps that is why so few hydrogen lamps survive today.

What you see here is the only known example of the first self-starting and self-regulating arc lamp invented by Victor Serrin of Paris, and built in 1857 by the great French instrument maker, Breguet. This beautiful lamp represents an important step in the evolution of the electric light. During the 1850’s many people had devised electromagnetic regulators to maintain the arc as the carbon electrodes burnt down. However, in order to start the arc, the carbon rods had to be touched together briefly and then separated. Existing mechanisms required that the lamp be started manually. This was a big problem especially if the lamp was in a hard to reach area or if it went out once it had been started. Serrin's design proved popular and was soon adopted as the main choice for French light houses where it served for many years. All of this took place 22 years before Thomas Edison perfected his incandescent lamp!

Edison 1/2 KW Bipolar Dynamo
Circa 1880's

Edison "Long Legged Mary-Ann Dynamo

Very early Dynamo Regulator. Signed “US Electric Lighting Co. NY” (stamped onto the adjusting arm lever.) Regulators such as this were used in early electric lighting circuits to adjust the dynamo output. The regulator consists of a rheostat (adjustable resistance) placed inside a wooden box. The device is connected to the dynamo field circuit, and by turning the handle the dynamo may be adjusted to run any number of lights from one to the maximum load.

The United States Electric Lighting company (USEL) was an early competitor to Edison, formed by Weston, Maxim, and Farmer, the latter two having claimed priority to the incandescent lamp. USEL and Edison were the first companies in the United Stated to develop a metering and controlling system for dynamos.

Mahogany frame is covered with coarse metal screen on sides and back, and is supported by four round wooden feet. Measures 10-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 6-1/2”. The number “1427” is stamped into the front panel.

Beautiful example of an early and very rare dynamo regulator. American, circa 1881

The Edison Chemical Meter
Edison set up his first power station in New York City at Pearl Street. The station began operation on September 4, 1882. In order to keep track of the electricity used by his customers, Edison designed the first electric wattmeter, called the "Chemical meter" (see below.)

It was a crude device based on the principle of electroplating, developed by Michael Faraday. Faraday had found that the transfer of metal from one plate to another in an electrolytic bath was exactly proportional to the current. Edison's first meter held a small glass jar in which two copper plates were suspended in a solution of copper sulphate. The cover of the cell was arranged so that one of the plates was easily removable by means of an insulated clamp with a thumb screw; the other plate, which was thick and cylindrical in form, was intended to remain in the cell to allow the copper to be transferred from it to the other plate via electrolysis. An Edison employee would visit the meter periodically, remove the electrode and weigh it, and the customer would be billed accordingly.

While the concept worked well in theory, in practice it was inconvenient and not especially accurate. Worse, there was no way for a customer to independently confirm their consumption of electricity so their confidence in the device was not high. As a result the meters were replaced in short order, and very few can be found today.