Wirt "Dim-A-Lite" pull-cord dimming socket adapter
date: label: date made
content: ca 1909
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Wirt "Dim-A-Lite" lamp socket, c 1909. Black coated steel shell with brass medium-screw socket and porcelain insulator. Bolted contact, mica insulator inside. Slide mechanism external with two pull chains wrapped around back of shell. Different colored bead finials tied to cords that are attached to the chains indicate direction of light adjustment. One tassel with tag that reads on one side: "Wirt Company / For Any Lamp / Not Over 60 Watts / Dim-A-Lite / 100 to 125 volts / Philadelphia"; other side: "Approved by Underwriters / Mail to Makers / Guaranteed / If Any Way / Imperfect / U.S. Patent Nov. 24, 1908". Shell stamped: "Wirt Company / Patented / Dim-A-Lite / Nov.24-08 / Phila. PA. U.S.A.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from International Business Machines, Inc., William J. Hammer Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.320742.03
label: catalog number
content: 320742.03
label: accession number
content: 241402
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lamp dimmer
label: Object Name
content: lamp socket
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: porcelain (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2 1/2 in x 2 in x 1 3/4 in; 6.35 cm x 5.08 cm x 4.445 cm