National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-16
NEW ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Former Obstacles overcome Description
of tIc I.aup aud Machinery.

OF thc Lamp nnd Machinery.
The Arlington Hotel lately had placed IN posi-
ton, to illuminate the main entrance, an electric
light, the most perfect that has yet been invented.
Tho light Is suspended OH wires high above the
plaza in front Of the hotel. The lamp sheds It's
perfectly pure light, tinged with the faintest blue
shade-just sufficient to prevent It from being
harsh-across ii street 10 a point almost near the
Avenue, and so clear IS Il that newspaper can
easily he read at that distance The light Is tho
property Of the Fuller Electric Light Company, Of
New York, and the patents controlled by the com
pany cover both lamp and machine The lamp is
automatic, and by an ingenious cockwork ar
rangemcnt the FIRST defect in regard to electric
lighting is overcome, perfectly steady lightbei
secured.
A RRtEf DESCRIPTION OF THE LAMP
is ns follows The lower carbon point is station
ary, like those used In the Brush aud other lamps
but the upper one is held in n rod, the rod being
connected with clock work gear By simply
pushing the rod up, when new point is required
the olook-work is set in gear Magnets placed in
the lamp, controlled by electric currents, act rs
valves and automatically regulate the gear. As
the upper carbon point burns the rod runs down
and keeps the two points always IN the same posi-
ton. The light consequently burns perfectly
steady without iickering aud the first great OBJ
lection TO the adoption of electric lighting has
been succC cCssiully Combattcd. The light Is the
patent Of Mr. Wood, of New York. The machine
used Is an improvement of the Grnmme dyamo-
electric machine. 4 small. inoilcnsive. looking
frame. work of iron, about foot high and two feet
long, containing four large magnets covered with
vermillion. painted copper wire, furnishes the
electricity. The machine Is placed IN the base
ment of the Arngton and the power Is furnished
by an upright ten horsepower engine.
THRoUGn THE CENTRE or THE MAcH1NE
runs a SHAFT on which r. carried tho nrmaturc-a
ring Of soft iron made In sections, each section
being insulated, wound round with copper wire
The ends of tic wire are Joined together in q
clamp, and n closed circuit Is thus established
from which the machine derives its name
Brushes made of narrow strips OF copper CON
duct the electricity from the immature TO the con-
ductor, and from thence by wires TO the binding
posts one WIRE however, first going round the four
large magnets which are placed above and be-
meath the shaft. The improvements IN this ma
chino consist In the manner of storing the cleo
trcity. The motive power Is then applied and n
current of electricity is generated, u faint blue
spark being emitted from the armuturc as 1t re.
wolves. The machine is very simple IN
construction. and, unlike the other lights
requires no expert to run II. All that Is required
Is a little oil. Any intelligent boy can trim the
lamps and look after the machine There Is no
danger of fire. ms the wires arc all heavily insulated
and cannot by any possibility ignite any object
they come in contact with The cost as compared
with gas is about One-third. The machine and
lamp have been brought to their present stage of
perfection after many months OF labor, and the
light Is now used in New York, Brooklyn, Hart
ford, Chicago, Paterson n. j., and other large
cities. A public exhibition will be given soon, so
that the public may be able to judge of its merits