Heater, Dowsing Bulb
Description
This heater consists of a large copper frame with a nave like inset containing two electric sockets, and two copper spring like clips. The socket is held, and the clips supported by two long dowsing bulbs,
however, there is one bulb missing. The one off switch is located at the front of the frame, and the electric cord enters the heater at the back of the frame. Approx date 1904-15.
Object detail
Classification
Credit line
The
creation
of
the
first
practical
heater
is
attributed
to
H.J.
Dowsing
of
England,
who
in
1896
repurposed
the
electric
filament
lamp
for
heating
because
it
was
energy
inefficient,
producing
more
heat
than
light.
He
did
this
by
adding
frosted
glass
to
the
carbon
filament
bulbs
and
combining
them
with
a
reflector
backing
to
better
radiate
heat.
This Dowsing-style heater is dated 1904-1915 and has no makers mark. Maybe this means that this is as an example of home-made ingenuity!
This Dowsing-style heater is dated 1904-1915 and has no makers mark. Maybe this means that this is as an example of home-made ingenuity!
Accession number
A68.104
Collection type
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