Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-18
ELECTRIC SCIENCE
APPLIED TO NOVEL AND INTERESTING
AS WELL AS USEFUL PURPOSES.
A Depot Of Electrical Machinery and
Mechauisms.

A Depot Of Electrical Machinery and
Mechanisms.
Although the science of electricity Is still
in an experimental state, few people are
aware of the numberless purposes to which
it is already applied. A visit to any large
electrical supply establishment would GER
tainly convince the average man of this
fact, as it forced DISPATCH reporter to
admit it when he visited the storerooms of
The Electrical Supply and Construction
Company yesterday afternoon.
This company, which is now located on
Liberty street, below Tenth, is the largest
establishment of its kind in the two cities.
A visit to its storerooms will furnish sights
equal to many seen in q museum. The
building occupied Is large three-storied
brick house, and each floor is taken up by
some special electrical department.
The top story is devoted entirely to manu-
featuring. A complete electrical machine
shop is here to be seen. The machinery used
is Of the latest and of the most approved
types. Every improvement has been added
as 1t appeared. and all the machinery in the
establishment is run entirely by the force
Of electricity. Steam power is nowhere used,
sufficient energy for all practical purposes.
One is almost bewildered as he moves
through the shop, by the din Of actively
working motors, or blinded by the numerous
lights that cast their shining rays on all
sides. All the appliances for generating "a
current or for stopping its progress, for
measuring its force, or for switching it in
another direction, in fact all the latest in
ventions in the electrical world are to be
seen arranged on all sides of the building.
Some idea of the vast operations of this
firm can be gathered from the fact that it
mas supplied Sterling, ILL.,, with street
appliances. Hamilton, Canada, and even
Sherman, Texas, with street lamps. The
signal boxes-the only ones of the kind in
the United States-which are now used by
the Citizens Traction Company, were fur
nished and constructed by this establish
ment. The private residences of many Of
our most prominent citizens have been sup
piled with all sorts of electrical appliances
from this source.
1t is almost useless to try to enumerate
any of the special features Of this company.
One of the things which struck the re-
porter's eye was the Herman Insulating
Joint, an instrument manufactured exclu-
sively by this company, and designed to
prevent current of electricity from leap
ing from a chandelier to the ground,
and at the same time to- save
wear and tear on the motor.
The manufacture of electrical chandeliers is
one of the specialties of this company. They
can be had in all shapes, sizes and forms,
from the one light bracket to tine 80 light
chandelier. In addition to this the COM
pany is actively engaged in street lighting,
in manufacturing pole brackets, electric
bells, tableau boards, service brakes, suspen-
sion lights, beside doing all sorts Of model
work and repairing. The stockroom is well
supplied with goods, and all orders are
filled at the shortest notice. The visit to
this room of the company was especially in
teresting. Electric bells of all kinds shone
and rang in every quarter; burglar and
alarm instruments were especially prom
inent; every species of battery and motor
was on exhibition. The Tester motor, which
is run by an alternating current and on
which experiments are now being made for
street railway purposes, was subjected to a
current, and attained the extraordinary
velocity of 2, 700 revolutions minute.
The company, however, is only beginning
on q large number Of improvements, which
will shortly add TO the beauty and value of
the store. 1t is the intention of those inter
ested to so increase the facilities of the COM
pany that it will equal in effectiveness any
establishment of the kind in the country.