Antique James G. Biddle Siemans & Halske AC Precision Wattmeter Oak Lock Box

Description

Early to mid 20th century Biddle / Siemens & Halske AC precision wattmeter with locking wood case, key, and instructions. James G. Biddle, Philadelphia - Agent in USA for Siemens & Halske, Berlin, Germany - Precision Wattmeter for Alternating Current - Laboratory Type Mldr. 22 No. 547224. Wood case, pierced metal sides, brass, glass.

"The wattmeter is an instrument for measuring the electric active power (or the average of the rate of flow of electrical energy) in watts of any given circuit. Electromagnetic wattmeters are used for measurement of utility frequency and audio frequency power; other types are required for radio frequency measurements." (Source: wikipedia)

"Siemens & Halske AG (or Siemens-Halske) was a German electrical engineering company that later became part of Siemens. It was founded on 12 October 1847 as Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske by Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske. The company, located in Berlin-Kreuzberg, specialised in manufacturing electrical telegraphs according to Charles Wheatstone's patent of 1837. In 1848, the company constructed one of the first European telegraph lines from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main. In 1881, Siemens & Halske built the Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway, the world's first electric streetcar line, in the southwestern Lichterfelde suburb of Berlin, followed by the Mödling and Hinterbrühl Tram near Vienna, the first electrical interurban tram in Austria-Hungary. 1882 saw the opening of the experimental "Elektromote" track, an early trolleybus concept in the Berlin suburb of Halensee. The rising popularity of telegraphs and electrical tramways, as well as in generators and electric motors, ensured steady growth for Siemens & Halske. Werner von Siemens retired in 1890, while Johann Georg Halske had already left the company in 1867. Werner von Siemens' brother Karl Heinrich, together with Werner's sons Arnold and Georg Wilhelm, grew the firm and erected new Siemens & Halske premises along the banks of the western Spree river, in the Berlin suburb of Charlottenburg, in 1897. The firm's vast new site continued to grow, and from 1899 onwards it was known as Siemensstadt.Siemens & Halske quickly expanded with representatives in Great Britain and Russia as well as its own cable-manufacturing plants at Woolwich and Saint Petersburg. The company's rise was supported by Werner von Siemens' patent of the electric generator (dynamo) in 1867. When Siemens & Halske merged parts of its activities with Schuckert & Co., Nuremberg in 1903 to become Siemens-Schuckert, Siemens & Halske AG specialized in communications engineering. During World War I, rotary engines of advanced and unusual design were produced under the Siemens-Halske brand, like the Siemens-Halske Sh.I and Sh.III. Siemens & Halske also produced large numbers of MG08/15 machineguns deployed for service of the Kaiser Imperial forces in World War I. Later, Siemens established several company subsidiaries for which the Siemens & Halske AG functioned as a holding company. During the Second World War, Siemens & Halske employed slave labour from concentration camps. Among other things, they produced field telephones of the type "Feldfernsprecher 33"." (Source: Wikipedia)

"It was early 1895 and a young James Biddle – just 27-years-old – was looking for a new hustle. After leaving his job – frustrated by the impersonal approach to sales and waning financial status of his former employer – Biddle concluded that “a business founded on a firm belief in personal relationship, and an intensive desire to perform a special service not elsewhere available, offered promise of success”. And he did just that. In February of that year, Biddle opened his doors and began importing and selling scientific and electrical equipment from his office in Philadelphia. Except, you’d rarely find him behind his desk. Biddle was a networking ace – travelling thousands of miles each year – to make connections with scientists at colleges across the country, as well as utility and industrial workers in the United States. Driven by the simple fact that he could give his customers an instrument “not elsewhere available” and backed by an unmatched level of personal service, which many businesses simply did not extend. As industrialization was rapidly expanding across the country and the economy was hitting an all-time high, Americans began to realize they could design and manufacture their own electrical equipment, rather than importing it. Of course, Biddle jumped on this opportunity – adding instruments manufactured right here in the United States to his sales repertoire. And if Mr. Biddle wasn’t actively seeking out new connections, he was searching for the next greatest test instrument to add to his ever-expanding catalog. With a strong business model, centered on consistent, personalized and unique service, it comes as no surprise that his one-man enterprise would ultimately grow to become the organization it is today. Anyways, it was 1910, and Mr. Biddle was about to get the sales lead of a lifetime from Dr. Rowland – a close friend and Head of the Electrical Department at Drexel University. Rowland introduced Biddle to a new device for measuring insulation resistance in megohms. While the demonstration alone was probably exhilarating for Biddle, it was the next statement that was truly exciting. The British manufacturers were looking for a distributor in the United States. Well, a trip across the pond was clearly in order. After meeting with the manufacturer, Evershed & Vignoles, in London, Mr. Biddle made an agreement that would forever change the course of the company. The Biddle firm was now the sole distributor of Megger® Testing Instruments in the United States. Many years later, demand in the United States reached an all-time high, and the US Navy became the largest single customer for insulation testers. Unfortunately, World War II was in full swing abroad – inhibiting Evershed & Vignole’s ability to manufacture an adequate supply of insulation testers, and the Navy was becoming increasingly more impatient. With the threat of losing their largest customer, the Biddle company was granted permission by Evershed & Vignoles to manufacture “Megger” testers in the United States. This was big, folks. Eventually, Biddle Instruments would become incorporated into the Megger family of brands." (Source: Megger)

Condition

Good Overall - Gentle wear; glass hazy

Dimensions

13.75" x 10.25" x 6.75" (Width x Depth x Height)