General Information

Serial #

9955

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Steel body/ glass cover/ metal binding posts.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

19.0 cm

Width

18.2 cm

Height

18.2 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Energy-electric

Category

Measurement

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Weston

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New Jersey

City

Newark

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Voltmeters similar to this one were used on switchboards during the early electric and communications industry around the turn of the century.

Function

Measures AC voltage in volts.

Technical

The Eclipse was the first in a new line of moving iron voltmeters and ammeters for the Weston Electrical Instrument Co. Weston claims that this line of meter is exceptionally accurate for a movable iron AC switchboard instrument, hence the name "Eclipse". Divisions are nearly even over a portion of the scale. Moveable coil instruments used with a rectifier or heating element as well as electrodynamometer instruments tend to be more accurate but more expensive. When the normal index covers the hole in the pointer, the switchboard operator sees a solid black pointer from far away. When the measured current deviates from the normal operating conditions, a partial or full white circle becomes visible. Thus a quick scan of many switchboard instruments can detect any problems. A nickel plated knob controls the dot. Possibly internal shunt (see Missing).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On face: 'ECLIPSE VOLTMETER/ WESTON ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT CO./ NEWARK, N.J., U.S.A.' ; Mfr. plate: 'PATENTED JAN. 1, 95 No 531669 MAR. 22, 98, No 28392/ MAR. 22, 98 No 28393 OCT. 4, 98 No 611723/ OCT. 4, 98 No 611722/ OTHER PATENTS PENDING/ MODEL 159 No 9955 [stamped in]'

Missing

Paper scale is missing. Steel plate at back of meter is also missing, revealing a large empty cavity. This may have been where the internal resistor and/or shunt were housed.

Finish

Black case. Nickel-plated face.

Decoration

N/A