The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-29
THE AVON METER
IN RICHMOND
Wonderful Invention to be introduced
Here.
IT MEASURES ELECTRICITY.
Brief History OF Electricity in the City,
Less Than Twenty-Five Years Ago
First Dynamo Was Brought
Ucrc u A.Cscw Pizzini.

There has been II Richmond. like In All
the country in the last twenty-five years
rapid and wonderful advancement in the
practical and beneficial uses of electricity
and electrical inventions. and now there IS
nothing impossible, it seems when electric
tty is brought into the question
There is soon 10 be put into practical
use in this city a new device in the way
Of an electrical invention: one That is con-
sideTed by electricians among Inc "ohue''
of the age. which VIII prove OF general pen
eft This little machine which IS soon 10
make its first appearance IN flchlhoHo
and about which there has been written
much is what is known as the avon
meter-a device for measuring electricity
as gas is now measured, and with as much
II not more accuracy. This machine IS
manufactured in London, Eng. and 50
far not one has been sold IN America,
having been only used here in a test when
was recently made in New York city, III
which The machine proved its worth and
accuracy.
For many years there has been in use
machine known as the Watt meter, but
in the opinion of prominent electricians
this machine has never given satisfaction
and has always been mistrusted. It's con-
struction has never been perfected. The
main fault found with the Watt meter is
that il fails to register correctly light
current. 1t is claimed or the Avon meter
that il will register positively accurately
the slightest current passing through it.
Place the machine on n hundred light
circuit and il has been proven it will regis
ter the burning of one light even for the
shortest time. something that the Wat
meter has never been known to do
The Avon meter is operated by a clock
"a 1,-njCf is attributed its
COMPANY ORGANIZING.
A COMPANY which will be known as the
Avon Electrical Company of America, with
n capital of $500 coo, is being organized TO
control the patent in this country. and will
be perfected within the next few months
CAPTAIN Andrew Pizzini and Mr.. j. Aiph.
1olzzini. of the Electrical and Construction
Company of Virginia, with headquarters in
this city have both taken stock in the
new company. and their company viii con-
troll the machine in Virginia and possibly
other Southern territory
an official test of the Avon meter viii
be made in Richmond on the first of next
october. by the Richmond Passenger and
Power Company, and il success is proven
then It win be put into general use in
The CITY. The Indications are that the
machine will be universally adopted. as the
need Of it has long been felt, and It viii
In a short time become common IN use as
the gas meter.
As stated in the beginning, there has
been wonderful progress in the use of cleo
tr.citv within the last quarter of CEN
turv. and when it is known that less than
twenty-five wears ago the first electric
dynamo was brought to Richmond. the ad-
vancement seems almost miraculous.
This wonder, as il was regarded at that
time was brought here in 1878, by Captain
Andrew Pizzini. and was installed at the
rear Of his house on Eighth Street and
was operated by Mr.. ". H. Thompson.
now superintendent Of the Fire Alarm De-
partment of the city.
From this dynamo the city was lighted
by hftv-nine large street lamps until 1886.
when the present power hose was con-
ftr-lcted. particularly for the operation of
electric cars Following the construction
Of ts,is plant electricity has worked wonder
IN the City. until to-day there are devices
md appliances of every description operat-
cd by electricity from the street rail-
ways and elevators 10 desk fans and Inter
communicating systems of house tele-
phones.