National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks: Edison “Jumbo” Engine-Driven Dynamo and Marine-Type Triple Expansion Engine-Driven Dynamo Program Greenfield Village Dearborn, Michigan May 29, 1980 Welcoming Remarks John Pope Vice President — Region V American Society of Mechanical Engineers Introduction James P. Macey Chairman — Detroit Section American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME Landmark Program J. J. Ermenc Chairman National History and Heritage Committee ASME History of Landmarks John Bowditch Curator, Power and Shop Machinery Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum Presentation of Jumbo #9 Plaque Donald N. Zwiep President American Society of Mechanical Engineers Acceptance Frank Caddy President Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum Remarks Charles M. Heidel Executive Vice President — Operations Detroit Edison Company President Michigan Electric Association Presentation of Triple Expansion Plaque Donald N. Zwiep Acceptance Frank Caddy Remarks Ernest Rambaugh Manager Engineering Bechtel Power Corporation Closing Remarks James P. Macey Informal viewing of the landmarks will follow the ceremony We wish to express our gratitude to the following organizations which made this booklet possible: Bechtel Power Corporation Detroit Edison Company Hoad Engineering Company Michigan Electric Association Society for IndustriaI Archeology To the staff of Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum our deepest appreciation — for without them there would not be a landmark ceremony. Prologue Dr. R. H. Thurston, the first presi- of all of these systems was efficient dent of ASME, made the following and reliable prime mover activated comment regarding the work of the generators. The two machines being mechanical engineer in his formal ad- dedicated today represent two very dress to the Society at the Annual important steps in the early develop- Meeting, November 4, 1880: ment of the power industry. These two machines are sole sur- “We have for our work the vivors of important classes of central cheapening and improvement station generation units. Each of all textile fabrics, the represented the “state-of-the-art” perfecting of metallurgical pro- when it was constructed. The jumbo cesses, the introduction of the dynamo is unique in American history electric light, . .” since it was the first to generate Development of large-scale elect- power in the first central power sta- ric utilities and electrical distribution tion in the United States. The triple systems has profoundly changed and expansion engine-driven dynamo set is improved our way of life. Popular sen- representative of the type of timent credits Edison’s invention of generator which provided power dur- the incandescent lamp in 1879 with ing the 1890’s. starting these changes, however, In this the 100th anniversary of Edison’s lamp would have been of lit- our society, 101 years after the inven- tle consequence had not practical tion of the incandescent lamp, we “systems” been developed to supply recognize these machines as National current to the lamps. An essential part Mechanical Engineering Landmarks. Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum Jumbo No. 9 as it appears today Cover picture: (Electrical Engineer — 1898.) on display in the Detroit Edison Example of belt and triple expansion direct drive “A” station replica at Greenfield Village. power plant operation Scientific American Testing Long-waisted Mary Ann Dynamos—1879. Greenfield village and Henry Ford Museum Jumbo No. 9 fitted with the original Porter-Allan Equipment. Edison “Jumbo” Engine-Driven Dynamo Edison’s dream was to transform the Although his dynamo experiments were incandescent light into a commercially proceeding with great success, Edison successful product. His plan was to remained plagued by disappointments develop a central station that would concerning the development of a supply electrical power to the masses. practical and economical incandescent Edison adapted the system developed for lamp. He could not find a proper gas lighting for his electrical distribution filament nor an adequate method for system. He felt that electricity could evacuating the glass globe. His investors ultimately replace gas as an illuminant in were rapidly becoming disillusioned. all residential and commercial capacities. After months of agonizing trials, on In 1878, Edison boasted that he “would October 21, 1879, Edison sealed a soon light up the entire downtown area carbonized cotton filament in an of New York with 500,000 incandescent evacuated bulb. The lamp operated lamps powered by a few steam successfully through the night. On New dynamos.” Year’s Eve Edison put on display the Western Union executives were Menlo Park laboratory and grounds intrigued by Edison’s claims and completely illuminated by his new inven- immediately pledged the company’s tion. That night provided his backers with financial support. Several other investors enough reassurance to continue their took Western Union’s lead. The result was funding. the formation of the Edison Electric Light News of the display also brought Company in October of 1878. All had Edison new investors. Henry Villard, a invested in a product that had yet to be railroad magnate, contracted him to created! The company provided funding install an independent lighting plant in and, in return, Edison relinquished all the S. S. Columbia, one of Villard’s many electrical lighting patents that he would properties. In May, 1880, the S. S. Colum- acquire over the following five year bia sailed with 115 lamps run by four period. bipolar “Mary Ann” dynamos. The With his finances secured, Edison set to lighting system ran successfully until 1895 work. He enlarged his Menlo Park facility when it was renovated. and expanded his laboratory staff. Univer- 1880 also saw the beginnings of sity trained men such as Frances Upton Edison’s experimental central station and C. L. Clarke were hired to translate experiments. He attached a power station Edison’s ideas into experimental forms. to his Menlo Park Machine Shop which By the summer of 1879, the Edison-Upton housed several dynamos driven from a dynamo had been developed. Due to its central steam engine using belts and two upright columns, the bipolar form shafting. The awkwardness and inefficien- dynamo was soon nicknamed Edison’s cy of such a system prompted Edison to “Long-waisted Mary Ann.” Using another develop an alternative means of power Edison invention, the dynamometer, the transmission. His solution was to directly two men were astonished to discover that couple a large dynamo to a high speed their dynamo proved to run at over 80% engine. efficiency, almost twice that of previous Edison assigned Upton and Clarke to dynamos! the project and ordered a high speed Menlo Park Reminiscence Exterior of the Pearl Street Station—1882. Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum A cutaway model showing the interior of the Pearl Street Station. engine from the Porter-Allan Engine they stood was entirely disconnected Company in Philadelphia. The engine from the main building to minimize the arrived in January of 1881 and tests were effects of vibration. It was expected that run at speeds up to 700 r.p.m.; however, each machine would provide for 1200 it was found that 350 r.p.m. was suffi- sixteen candlepower incandescent lamps cient. After this first directly coupled with a maximum output of 1400 lights engine-dynamo proved successful, a continuously. second was constructed at the Edison The street outside also played a vital Machine Works on Goerck in New York role in Edison’s arrangements for the City. The unit was built especially for the central station. Edison planned to dig 1881 Paris Electrical Exposition. The fourteen miles of trenches to house the massive machine and its successors were underground conduits. Previously, power nicknamed “Jumbo” after P. T. Barnum’s services used overhead wiring, but Edison famous elephant. The Jumbos definitely felt that leakages of electrical current lived up to their namesake. The dynamos would be prevented if wiring was placed weighed 44,820 pounds each, their poles underground. City officials disagreed and used 12 field coils, and the Siemans’ type decided to discourage Edison. They armature and its shaft were over 10 feet threatened to tax each foot of wiring laid long! and suggested that inspectors from the While the machinery was being Department of Public Works should developed, Edison took on the task of monitor the daily digging with Edison finding a location for his first central paying their salaries. Edison supposedly power station. He chose New York City, protested saying, “Why, you don’t lift but discovered most of the property was water pipes and gas pipes on stilts!” After painfully expensive. Edison directed his several battles Edison finally was allowed search to a rundown part of town in to construct his trenches, however, his hopes of finding a cheap piece of real problems with underground wiring were estate. In August of 1881, his search not over. ended at an old commercial building at Tests were run during the summer of 257 Pearl St. Not only was it inexpensive, 1882 with an amazing result. While the but it was near the financial district so staff at Pearl St. was pleased with the that Edison could easily display his station’s performance, the police were product to wealthy potential backers. getting reports that “juice” from the Work to convert the building into a station was leaking out onto the streets! power plant was immediately initiated. Several incidences were recorded: Edison chose to retain the building’s “A peddler of tinware, with a ten exterior but planned to rearrange it dollar ‘nag,’ drove through the internally. Lattice girders and floor beams crowd. At the moment he entered similar to those used by elevated the charmed spot, his quadruped railroads were installed to support the gave a snort, and, with ears erect 180 tons of generating machinery. and tail pointing to the North Installation of the machinery continued Star, dashed down the street at a throughout the summer of 1882.