Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-26

then present battery was commercial
success. and the profits from its sale
would pay for all the costly experiments
required and that when the new battery
was ready would be time enough TO with
draw the old. Mr.. Edison said No con-
fined himself TO his laboratory and after
six years Of persistent toll. in the course
OF which 5000 experiments were made, he
brought forth the new storage battery.
THE perfected Edison storage battery
involves the use OF an entirely new vol
taic combination In an alkaline electro
lyte in place Of the lead-peroxide COM
bination and acid electrolytic Characters
tic OF ell other commercial storage bat
teries This not only secures durability
and greater output by the given weight of
battery, but eliminates a long list Of
troubles and diseases inherent in the lead
acid combinations.
"In the Edison battery the active ma
terials are oxides of nickel and of iron
respectively in the positive and negative
electrodes. the electrolyte being a solution
Of caustic potash in water.
THE retaining cans are made OF sheet
steel. This can is welded at the seams by
the autogenous method, making leakage
or breakage from severe vibration impos-
slble The walls of the can are corrugated
so rs to give the greatest amount Of
strength with a minimum weight. The can
is electroplated with nickel and close
union OF the nickel and steel lie attained by
fuslng them together so that they are prac-
ticaly one metal The coating of nickel
protects the steel from rust"
The arguments presented by the adhe-
rents OF the Edison battery are theses:
Every part of the Edison cell ls manu-
featured by specially designed machinery.
All the parts are strong and durable. All
active material manufacthred-both nickel
and iron-is tested before being Used in
commercial cells and frequent tests are
also made of the internal contacts in tubes
The pockets and tubes are securely fas-
tened and the plates thus formed are prac-
tically integral
''rhe battery requires little attention and
care and therefore lessons the expense for
labor In a garage. In a solution of caustie
potash and water only water need be added
to keep the electrolyte in the right condi-
ton. Caustlc potash solution does not af-
feet iron in any way, but rather prevents
corrosion.
The battery weighs about half as much
as lead battery for the same output, hut
in addition to this it saves about so per
cent of its weight in the construction of
the truck itself. That is, truck bull. to
carry an Edison siXty-cell battery would
save not only 500 pounds in battery weight,
but about 250 pounds in the weight Of the
truck over the same truck built to carry
lead cells.
Electric wagons equipped with the Edi-
son battery have been successfully mar
keted for the last six years. during which
time several hundred have been placed in
the hands of users. These are all in opera
ton today and still owned by the original
purchasers.
These electric wagons have made good
records for economy, durability, low cost
of upkeep and general all around efficiency
In the delivery service of leading depart
nent stores, dry goods stores and express
companies these electric wagons are ex-
tenslvely used"