Wirt "Dim-A-Lite" pull-cord dimming lamp socket
date: label: date made
content: ca 1907
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Wirt "Dim-A-Lite" lamp socket adapter, c 1909. Brass shell with porcelain insulator. Medium-screw socket with bolted contact, mica insulator. Two pull-chains emerge from a single side port to actuate the internal dimming mechanism. The pull chains pass thru a common sleeve. Pulling the bell tassel actuates the dimmer in one direction, pulling the sleeve reverses the action. Marked: Wirt Company / Pat. Appl'd For / Dimming Socket / Phila.PA.U.S.A. / 40W. 110V." Unit appears to be made for installation in a luminaire to replace a standard on-off socket.
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.320742.02
label: catalog number
content: 320742.02
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 1/4 in x 1 3/4 in x 2 in; 5.715 cm x 4.445 cm x 5.08 cm