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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 2023

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 a mile and the museum will be on your right. The museum is closed for the winter, however we are looking forward to opening our doors on May 27 for the Leduc West Antique Society Spring Swap Meet, Tractor Pull & Music Series. Featured will be all manner of vendor tables, displays, tours, and the first Tractor Pull of the season. In the evening the first concert of the Music Series will feature "Prairie Sky" on stage.
July 22 & 23 is theLWAS Annual Exposition, the biggest event of the year which will include public tours, exhibits, a parade of antique vehicles, and a Tractor Pull; on Saturday evening the Music Series will feature "The Jivin' Belles" performing songs heavily influenced by close harmony groups of the 40's like the Andrews Sisters.
September 9 & 10, the final event of the summer season is the Fall Harvest event… with public tours, exhibits and the Tractor Pull Provincial Finals event. The final music performance of the season will feature “Celtera” and as their name implies is steeped in the music from the Emerald Isle and Scotland.

 

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