Accession No

1320

Brief Description

electric motor, by Apps, English, 1800-1900 (c)

Origin

England; London; 433 Strand

Maker

Apps

Class

electrical

Earliest Date

1800

Latest Date

1900

Inscription Date

Material

wood; metal (brass); plastic (ivorine)

Dimensions

length 180mm; breadth 113mm; height 170mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Transferred from the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

Inscription

‘APPS,
433 STRAND
LONDON.’ (on ivorine plate set into base)
‘E 81’ (on brass plate on base (added))

Description Notes

Rectangular wooden base; two pairs of brass terminals; two brass standards provide horizontal bearings for rotor axle; rotor consisting of six bar magnets, parallel to axle; magnet poles pass close to upper ends of two vertical electromagnets, connected in series (with direction of winding opposite), to one pair of terminals.

Condition: fair (axle sawed off); incomplete (one terminal missing).

References

Events

Description
By the 19th century, the invention of the battery, the discovery that a magnetic field formed around a current, and the growing industrial revolution ensured that people wanted to enhance the power of electricity and magnetism to power machines. Previously powering machines had been left up to water wheels, horses and steam engines (which were less efficient but were eco-friendly). By the mid-19th century the mass production of electric motors and electrical generators had started. This motor has two electro-magnets with a lot of coils (called a solenoid) wrapped around them in order to increase the strength of the magnetic field making the blades rotate above. This motor is believed to be a class room demonstration of the principles of electromagnetism.

[Label written by work experience student Jack in 2019]
26/09/2022
Created by: Morgan Bell on 26/09/2022

FM:45075