Currently indexing
silver dry cell battery
Date: 1880-1900
Inventory Number: 2007-1-0061
Classification: Battery
Subject:
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
18.5 × 27.5 × 15 cm (7 5/16 × 10 13/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
Accessories: one jumper wire in red insulation, with binding posts still attached to both ends; six coiled pieces of wire (of various lengths) in pink and gray striped insulation; one loose metal binding post
Description:
Custom wooden box with rounded edges and brackets to hold a carrying handle (handle missing). Inside the box's hinged top is a plug-board with 51 plugs numbered from 0 to 50. Plugs 1 to 50 are arranged in a 5 x 10 grid which is numbered in bottom-to-top boustrophedon, from 1 in the lower left to 50 in the lower right. Two thumbscrews can be loosened in order to lift out the faceplate and the battery beneath it.
Signedplate inside case reads: THE CHLORIDE OF SILVER DRY CELL BATTERY CO. / BALTIMORE, MD U.S.A
Function"The most common type of battery used today is the "dry cell" battery. There are many different types of batteries ranging from the relatively large "flashlight" batteries to the minaturized versions used for wristwatches or calculators. Although they vary widely in composition and form, they all work on the sample principle. A "dry-cell" battery is essentially comprised of a metal electrode or graphite rod (elemental carbon) surrounded by a moist electrolyte paste enclosed in a metal cylinder..." Information taken from the following website.