|
Checklist:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
1. Willms Interchangeable Dry Cell Battery, manufactured by The Chloride of Silver Dry Cell Battery Company of Baltimore, Md., c.1890s.
An electromedical dental outfit containing the necessary electrodes for dental application. This is an example of an early attempt at painless dentistry with the use of electricity.
2. Perpetual motion patent model, c. 1900-1905.
A model made for patent application in the centuries old search for mechanical perpetual motion. This device incorporates variations on an earlier design. At the beginning of the 20th century, when patent models were no longer required or accepted by the US Patent Office -- drawings and explanations considered sufficient proof of the workability of a submission -- models were still required in two areas only: flight and perpetual motion.
3. Motor manufactured by the Riker Electric Motor Co., Brooklyn, NY, under 1891 patents.
An all exposed skeletal model of a 110 volt single amp 1800 RPM DC motor clearly illustrating the rotating armature, the commutator, field coil and frame borne on four corner-mounted lion's paw feet. Riker pioneered the use of electrical motors in transportation.
4. "Guide" Output Meter manufactured by Guide Lamp Corporation, Anderson, Indiana USA, c. 1936.
A hand held accessory for commercial garage use measuring the headlight brightness and battery strength, designed with streamlined and anthropomorphic features.
5. Holbrooke gyroscope, mid 19th century.
A demonstrational device illustrating the principle of conservation of angular momentum. Holbrooke was an early purveyor of scientific and tutorial materials for school use.
6. Bailey's Astral Lantern manufactured by NE School Furnishing Company, Boston, Mass, c. 1880.
A stencilled tin lantern container for educational use with adjustable and changeable astronomical charts on each of the four sides to be illuminated and viewed in a darkened room.
7. Telegraph register, Knox & Shain, makers, Philadelphia, mid 19th century.
A weight-driven clockwork telegraph receiving apparatus embossing coded messages onto paper tape. Messages were sent in Morse code via landline. This is an example of the earliest form of technology accomplishing communication over long distances using electromechanical means.
8. Schedler globe on cast iron tripod base, 1872.
A Schedler twelve inch terrestrial globe, recipient of the Paris Exposition prize model in 1867, showing steamship lines and the 1865 transatlantic telegraph cable. This example on an ornate, late-Victorian, filigreed stand.
9. Earth inductor, fourth quarter 19th century.
When the wire coil is flipped, an electric current will be induced by the earth's magnetic field. This induced electrical flow may be detected when the leads are connected to a sensitive galvinometer. Alternately, the continued flipping of the coil results in a constantly induced current and, in this mode, the device acts as a generator.
10. Man From Mars Radio Hat, manufactured by American Meri-lei Corp. (Victor Hoeflich owner) in the old Arcadia dance hall at 918 Halsey Street, Brooklyn, NY, 1949.
A novelty radio in the form of an expeditionary pith helmet outfitted with externally mounted control knob, tubes and loop antenna. Marketed as providing, among other attributes, hands-free mobile use.
11. Doorknob alarm, c. 1910.
A bell alarm activated by spring wound gear mechanism mounted on a levered mechanical linkage with clamp, designed to attach to a doorknob. When doorknob is turned from outside, alarm will ring, thereby alerting occupant of room. Probably used by travellers, salesmen and the security conscious in office and home.
12. Photograph of man with iron filings, c.1920.
Photograph showing well-dressed gentleman in the process of demonstrating electromagnetic fields induced by a large Tesla coil.
13. Westinghouse electrical fan with tag citing Tesla's patent of 1891.
A very early form of motor utilising Nikola Tesla's invention of alternating current.
14. Photograph of Nikola Tesla, c.1922.
Photograph of Nikola Tesla, flanked by two gentlemen, posed in a steam engine powered electrical generating plant.
15. Electrostatic generator with glass-legged stool and accessories, mid 19th century.
This is a miniature form of a single plate induction apparatus. Such objects were used as demonstrational tools as well as for electro-medical applications, a major fad and field for experimentation throughout the 19th century.
16. KOB, a combined key and sounder (sending and receiving) telegraph set, Foote Pierson, c. 1900.
17. Telegraph receiver housed in a standard pocket watchcase, c. 1900.
These were probably for use in furtive or covert reception of telegraphed messages and likely saw greater success in the novelty market.
18. Camelback telegraph key by Tillotson, 8 Day Street, NY, mid 19th century.
Used as a sending apparatus conveying Morse code in a telegraph system. This example is on an ovoid hard rubber base bearing Goodyear's patent of 1851.
19. The Violin Vibrophone, manufactured by The Vibrophone Manufacturing Co. Brooklyn, NY, c. 1900.
A pseudo-medical device designed to transmit impulses of sound to the ears via stethescopic attachment. The resonant body of the violin is outfitted with mechanical and electrical apparatus used to vary the strength and frequency of these sound impulses.
20. The Kulmar Equatorial Star Finder (with original book), c. 1912
A device with charts and adjustments for locating stars and constellations.
1 |
2 |
3 |
4
|