Tester, Circuit

Object Name:

Tester, Circuit

Object ID:

2005.045

Creator:

Whitney Electrical Instrument Company

Place of Origin:

Penacook, NH

Date:

1897

Description:

Electrical circuit testing set, contained in mahogany box. Made by Whitney Electrical Instrument Company, Penacook, NH. Hinged lid with printed paper label inside: "Whitney Electrical Instrument Company / TESTING SET. / Certificate. / No. 5603 Date 4/8/'97 / Accurate within 1-5% at 70 °[degree symbol] F / Adjusted to Board of Trade unit. / Directions.", followed by instructions for use. Dense black board with four steel binding posts for connecting battery and resistance circuit. Galvanometer at lower left, 1.5" diam., with glass face, needle, and paper gauge imprinted: "WHITNEY ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO / GALVANOMETER. / No. 5603 / PENACOOK, N.H. U.S.A." 18 brass plugs, each marked with a number from one to 1000. To measure resistance, plugs are removed until galvanometer needle is centered, then numbers are added up. Black push button. Board held in place by four brass screws which are currently loose, so board can be easily lifted out (two of the four wooden corner blocks are missing). Lid has latch and two metal fittings for a missing leather strap handle.

Material:

Wood
Mahogany
Metal

Brass
Steel

Dimensions:

H-5.3 W-8 D-5.75 inches

Provenance:

Whitney Electrical Instrument Company was founded in 1891 and became Hoyt Electrical Instrument Company around 1906.

Purchased by donors at Concord, NH, Antiques Gallery, 2005.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Garvin

Subjects:

Circuit, Electrical, Galvanometer, Set, Testing