General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

2

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

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

Dimensions

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

Length

91.0 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 500-volt power circuit controls for the switchboard in the Sault Ste. Marie Canal powerhouse.

Technical

Centrally mounted on the switchboard, this panel housed the high voltage meters and switches used for operating the two 500-volt generators. 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. (Ref. 3) Original panel configuration in 1895 was substantially different from this later, modified version.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Plate fixed to top left of panel reads "DEPARTMENT/ RAILWAYS AND CANALS/ SAULT ST. [ sic]MARIE/ CANAL". Meter, below, has following text cast in raised print on casing "WESTON STATION VOLTMETER/ NO. 725/ MADE BY/ WESTON ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO./ NEWARK, N.J.: U.S.A.". Plate mounted on casing reads "PATENTED/ NOVEMBER 6, 1886./ NO. 392386 AND NO. 392387./ MAY 14, 1889 NO. 403311./ APRIL 29, 1890./ NO. 426992 AND 427022./ JUNE 10, 1890./ NO. 19895 AND 19896." Meter scale labelled 0-650, at intervals of 50. Contacts mounted below marked "ON"and "OFF". Plate fixed to top right of panel reads "MANUFACTURED/ BY/ THE CANADIAN GENERAL/ ELECTRIC CO./ LTD./ PETERBOROUGH, ONT." Meter, below, has following text cast in raised print on casing "WESTON STATION AMMETER./ NO. 711/ MADE BY/ WESTON ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO./ NEWARK, N.J.: U.S.A.". Plate mounted on casing reads "MADE FOR/ CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. LTD./ OF/ TORONTO/ PATENTED IN THE UNITED STATES/ NOV. 6, 1888. NO. 392387, APRIL 29, 1880, NO. 427022. FEB. 17, 1891 NO. 446489;/ DESIGN PATENTS/ JUNE 10, 1890, NO. 19896; APRIL 5, 1892; NO. 21445". Meter scale labelled 0-200, at intervals of 20. No markings evident on meter face.

Missing

Lamp bulb and/or shade missing from fixture mounted on panel.

Finish

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

Decoration

N/A