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Manufacturers Index - Thomson-Houston Electric Co.
Patents
This page contains information on patents issued to this manufacturer.

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Patent Number Date Title Name City Description
12,341 Feb. 10, 1881 Improvements on automatic adjusters for commutator brushes of dynamo-electric machines Elihu Thomson New Britain, CT This patent is primarily of interest because its inventors would, in 1882, collaborate with deep-pocketed investors to establish the Thomson-Houston Electric Co., which a decade later would merge with the Edison General Electric Co. to create General Electric Co. At the time this patent was issued both men were involved in the American Electric Co. of New Britain, but that enterprise's capital was insufficient for their ambitions. One of their projects involved electrifying the armory of the town of Lynn, Massachusetts. A Lynn newspaper owner, Silas A. Barton, visited the company in New Britain to broach the possibility of a second installation in Lynn, and learned that the company was in financial difficulty. He subsequently encouraged other Lynn businessmen to invest with him in revitalizing that firm, including Charles Coffin, who owned a shoe factory (Coffin & Clough) in Lynn. Barton, Coffin, Thomson and Houston then formed Thomson-Houston Electric Co. in Philadelphia, acquired the assets of American Electric Co., and relocated the business to Lynn, with Coffin becoming president. Houston did not make the move to Lynn and ceased his active role in the business.
In the hand-written patent specification Houston is described as a "Professor of Physics" and his former student and colleague, Thomson, is described as an "Electrician". The invention itself is a construction that automatically adjusts the angular position of the brushes to the optimal location so as to minimize sparking. They claim two factors in determining the best position: rotational speed and rate of current variation. They used a combination of centrifugal force (proportional to speed) and magnetic force (proportional to current variation) to automatically position the brushes.
    Improvements on automatic adjusters for commutator brushes of dynamo-electric machines Edwin James Houston Philadelphia, PA  
269,605 Dec. 26, 1882 Dynamo Electric Machine Elihu Thomson New Britain, Hartford County, CT
281,416 Jul. 17, 1883 Dynamo Electric Machine Elihu Thomson New Britain, Hartford County, CT
294,095 Feb. 26, 1884 Electric Power Distribution System Elihu Thomson New Britain, Hartford County, CT
323,976 Aug. 11, 1885 Automatic commutator adjuster for dynamo electric machines Elihu Thomson Lynn, Essex County, MA
345,336 Jul. 13, 1886 Commutator brush Elihu Thomson Lynn, Essex County, MA
356,902 Feb. 01, 1887 Armature for Dynamo Electric Machines Elihu Thomson New Britain, Hartford County, CT
410,468 Sep. 03, 1889 Reactive and Induction Coil Elihu Thomson Lynn, Essex County, MA
    Reactive and Induction Coil Edwin Rice Jr. Lynn, Essex County, MA  
410,670 Sep. 10, 1889 Brush-holder for dynamo-electric machines Charles D. Jenney Indianapolis, IN
413,292 Oct. 22, 1889 Electric measuring-instrument Elihu Thomson Lynn, MA A GE current meter was seen with this patent date on it.
Thomson-Houston was established in 1883 and then in 1892 merged with Edison General Electric Company of Schenectady to form General Electric Co.
432,652 Jul. 22, 1890 Welding or other dynamo Elihu Thomson Lynn, MA "My invention relates to the construction of dynamo-machines for delivering currents of large volume and low electro-motive force such as are suitable for electric welding and other metal-working operations..." These other operations are not spelled out but include induction heaters.
434,488 Aug. 19, 1890 Electric Power Trasmission Elihu Thomson Lynn, Essex County, MA
434,489 Aug. 19, 1890 Electric Power System Elihu Thomson Lynn, Essex County, MA
435,264 Aug. 26, 1890 Reciprocating Electric Hammer Charles J. Van Depoele Lynn, Essex County, MA
471,155 Mar. 22, 1892 Alternating Current Motor Elihu Thomson Swampscott, Essex County, MA
485,620 Nov. 08, 1892 Electric Motor Controller Jonathan P. B. Fiske Lynn, Essex County, MA
520,810 Jun. 05, 1894 Electric Reciprocating Motor Elihu Thomson Swampscott, Essex County, MA