Artwork Info: DC generator

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DC generator

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1890
50.0 x 21.0 cm
NEMO Science Museum

thomas alva edison (1847 – 1931)

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931): American inventor of the light bulb, phonograph & motion pictures. Pioneer of industrial research with 1093+ patents. Explore his legacy!

NEMO Science Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Amsterdam's iconic NEMO Science Museum offers an immersive journey through interactive scientific exhibits and breathtaking rooftop views, inviting curious minds of all ages to explore the wonders of discovery.

Edison built this DC generator based on his 1878 design. The two long, vertically oriented black cylinders are the field coils that generate the magnetic field in which the rotor turns. The shape of those coils led the lab workers who worked on this design – all of whom were men – to refer it as ‘The Long-legged Mary-Ann’. The rotor is on the bottom, behind an upright lever. The lever controls a switch that can be set so the power generated by the rotor flows through the field coils in a parallel circuit, allowing the generator to create its own field. This type of generator was built in various sizes, and there are versions up to two metres high. Large horizontal versions were used for the world

About this artwork

Title: DC generator
Artist: thomas alva edison
Year: 1890
Original dimensions: 50.0 x 21.0 cm
Copyright status: Public domain
Where to see it: NEMO Science Museum
Creative period: Late Medieval
Corpus context: nemo museum display piece , historical device showcase
Keywords: museum artwork” , nemo science museum , black cylinder art

DC generator

thomas alva edison (1847 – 1931)

NEMO Science Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

About this artwork

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