The Thompson-Houston System of Electric Lighting

Thesis submitted for the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering,
to the Faculty of Purdue University
June 1887
“In its power to assume always that form of energy which happens to be the most useful lies the great importance of electricity.” This importance has been brought to the notice of the public by means of the many recent exhibitions. Public interest has been roused and there is everywhere a desire for information and a guide through this far reaching field for discovery and invention. And, although there are many works treating on electricity and electric light, people specially want a short and concise though thorough description of the various schemes by which electric light is produced. In this thesis the object is to give a brief treatise on one of the many schemes of producing light by electric currents viz—The Thomson-Houston System.
In pursuing the subject of electricity, the first thing noticed is the analogy and difference between the dynamo and its older and more powerful rival the steam engine. The resemblances are, First as in the development of the steam engine, but few of the improvements and inventions in electrical machines were made by mathematical leaders. Watt ran across the idea of the seperate condenser while repairing the Newcomen model and applied the expansion of steam to the steam engine by a mechanical accident rather than by his own ingenuity, and so we find the first designers of the dynamo were mechanics rather than philosophers. Secondly the tendency to disregard old methods and instruments because of new discoveries and inventions has, as in the steam engine, hindered the advancement in electrical science. As an example it has become customary to regard frictional and statical electric machines, for practical purposes, as obsolete, but recent discoveries seem to hint that they may yet be utilized. Lately Prof. Dodge has shown that dust and vapor whirling in the air may be settled by a discharge of electricity consisting of a continuous series of electric sparks. This has been utilized to clear the atmosphere in lead smelting works from the fumes of volatized lead and with its application comes the invention of Wimhurst which produces with a minimum of mechanical labor a continuous series of electric sparks and works admirably.