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Aa 1880's Thomson Incandescent Dynamo generator rated at 30 kilo Watts, and 110 volts

Thomson Houston 1880's Dynamo Generator

An 1880's Thomson Dynamo runs again to celebrate 125 years of electric lights in Edmonton.


 

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The Edmonton Power Historical Foundation is excited to have this Thomson Houston dynamo running again in time to commemorate the 125th anniversary of electric lights in Edmonton. The first generator to provide electric power in 1891 in Edmonton was a Thomson Houston, albeit an alternating current unit. On December 22, 1891 along the main street of Jasper Avenue in the tiny village of Edmonton, North West Territories, the electric lights came on. 

 

After replacing the bearings, repairing the broken wiring and cleaning the commutator and brush gear we attached an electronic speed control to power the unit as a motor.

 

This rare vintage DC dynamo built sometime in the 1880's had a rated output of 30,000 Watts at 110 volts.

Due to the fragile insulation, we are unwilling to spin it at the recommended generation speed of 1150 rpm. Instead, we are applying 12V DC at about 35 amps to display it running, but at a safer speed of 50 rpm.

 

The spherical (or ball) armature is a unique feature of Thomson Houston DC dynamos of this period. Other distinctive features are the iron bars to connect the field poles and the unusual brass wire mesh brushes.

 

It is rather impressive that after 125 years the unit still runs.

 

Categories: Generators Collection

Author: ephf

Edmonton Power Historical Foundation is a non-profit society dedicated to preserving the history of electric power in the City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta, for the education and entertainment of current and future generations.

Edmonton Power Historical Foundation

Hours of operation 2024

We are located on the grounds of the Leduc West Antique Museum. Travel 5 miles west of Leduc on Highway 39. Go north on Range Road 260 (Cohne Dale Road) for about 800 metres and the museum will be on your right. Our museum is now closed for the season, but 2023 was a great year and we are looking forward to an even better 2024. Here are the dates for the major events at Leduc West, when the  Edmonton Power Historical Foundation Museum will also be open:
Spring Swap Meet May 25 & May 26, 2024
LWAS Annual Exposition July 20 & July 21, 2024
Fall Harvest September 7 & September 8, 2024

 

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