Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-09
How the Supply Is Stored.

How the Supply Is Stored.
"a sufficient supply of electricity required
for the lamp is stored in an accumula tor.
One accumulation. weighing two pounds. is
the allowance for each lamp. Should the
two outside lamps be also electric two
other batteries would be needed. The out
side illuininatorS are not OF the same
shape, and differ in principle from the in
terror lamp, but an Irdia-rubber socket is
used to reduce vibration. Accumulation, or
accumulatorS, as the case may be, are
carried in the boot, under the coachman's
seat. and they are easily accessible. The
coachman himself, without electrical
knowledge, makes the necessary connec-
lions.
AN eight-cell storage battery for an
ordinary family carriage or brougham is
simply a box inches long, inches wide
and Z inches deep. This supplies the cur
rent to keep the lamp lighted for eighteen
hours, which. ordinarily, is sufficient TO last
| the owner Of the carriage from one to two
months. The cost OF recharging varies, ac-
cording to wear and tear from 80 cents to
$1-not more than the expense en1ailcd
by the employment of oil lamps, which in
variably give out an unpleasant odor and
| an uncertain illumination. The electric
lamp does not wear out unless subjected to
careless treatment, or unless it is weakened
by the application of too strong a current
The accumulation, however, makes the lat
ter contingency almost an impossibility.
There appears to be fair prospect that
in the course of few years, the ma jority
of public conveyances in CITES as welT as
private vehicles, will be lighted by cleo
| tricity; but the public will. of course expect
that electric lighting shall be superior to
oil. This question seems to have been al
ready quite well determined. 1t has been
found that an electric lamp of - candle
power will enable any passenger to read in
comfort while travelling. Apart from the
actual amount Of light to be afforded.
| which, Of course, is capable of adjustment,
it may be stated that the latest form of
battery overcomes the difficulties which
have hitherto stood in the way of the adap-
tation of electricity for the lighting of
street conveyances.
Weight of the Battery.
"a tram-car battery, working two lights
to illuminate the interior as we'll as the
colored lamps seen from the front or rear
of the car, will weigh about so pounds and
furnish a light equal to 2 IL candlepower
for forty-fve to fifty hours. The battery is
constructed to resist the jolting which ac-
companies the motion of wheeled vehicle
Lamps applied to omnibuses, trans and
cabs differ in form. The omnibus light is
fixed in a globe, smaller and fiatter than
the pattern which screws the oil lamps in
a European railway carriage. The mean
descent carbon hangs downward, instead
of projecting upward, as it does in table
lamps. 1t is contained within very small
bulb. Behind it is a concave reflector Of
onameled iron. There is no restriction as
to the form of the tram lamp, as the same
conditions do not apply, but in the cab
lamp where economy of space Is a con-
sideration, the globe, contained in a semi
circular reflector, having a glass front, is
placed upright at the back Of the vehicle,
over the passengers heads. AS these cab,
tram and omnibus lamps are of the Edi-
son make, and there has been of late such
a great reduction in their price to the pub
lie, it may be understood that in order to