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Ingenium, 1992.2464.001
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OBJECT TYPE: pendant/push-button/single pole
DATE: 1915
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 1992.2464.001

MANUFACTURER: PERKINS
MODEL: Unknown
LOCATION: United States of America

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 1
Total Parts: 1
AKA: N/A
Patents: N/A
General Description: brass shell/ synthetic push buttons/ metal parts

Dimensions

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

Length: N/A
Width: N/A
Height: 6.1 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: 4.3 cm
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

Group: Energy-electric
Category: User site
Sub-Category: N/A

Manufacturer

AKA: PERKINS
Country: United States of America
State/Province: Unknown
City: Unknown

Context

Country: North America
State/Province: Unknown
Period: circa 1915+
Canada: An American made switch of a type used in Canadian households. Part of a large & varied collection of over 7500 electrical items acquired & documented by Ontario Hydro in the 1960s. The collection was thought to be the largest & most comprehensive of its kind in Canada & was donated to the National Museum of Science & Technology in 1992.
Function: An electrical wiring device used to make or break a connection in an electrical circuit, specifically in domestic lighting.
Technical: The first patent for a push-button switch was granted to Ediswan in 1895. The single push-button switch had the disadvantage of not indicating if the switch is open or closed & has seldom been used. The two button arrangement, however, was free from this defect & enjoyed great popularity in America (Ref. 2).
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: raised lettering on push-button reads "PERKINS"
Missing: appears complete
Finish: gold coloured metal/ black button
Decoration: N/A

CITE THIS OBJECT

If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:

PERKINS, Switch, circa 1915, Artifact no. 1992.2464, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collection.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/1992.2464.001/

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