Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI. Search this
Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI Search this
Former owner:
Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of [former name], NMAH, SI. Search this
Work and Industry, Division of, NMAH, SI Search this
Extent:
4 Cubic feet (11 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Reports
Photographs
Logs (records)
Correspondence
Blueprints
Architectural drawings
Articles
Date:
1920 - 1961
Summary:
The Emmet Mercury Boiler Records contains information about General Electric Company and Hartford Electric Light Company's development, installation, and use of William Le Roy Emmet's mercury boiler units. The mercury boiler units used mercury fluid along with steam power to improve cycle efficiency in converting coal or oil to electric power. The collection contains articles, news clippings, reports, instruction manuals, log books, data sheets, photographs, and drawings related to the experimental unit installed at Dutch Point, Connecticut, and the first commercial use of a mercury boiler at the South Meadow Station in Hartford, Connecticut.
Scope and Contents:
The collection documents the construction, operation, and demolition of mercury boiler generating units developed by William Le Roy Emmet and installed by the Hartford Electric Light Company in Hartford, Connecticut. The collection contains articles and research about the use of mercury and the development and implementation of mercury boilers. Also included is general correspondence between Hartford Electric Light Company and General Electric Company, operational logs, collected data, instructional guides, inspection reports, and photographs and drawings for the Dutch Point Mercury Boiler and the South Meadow Station.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into four series.
Series 1: Background and Research on Mercury Boilers, 1920-1961
Series 2: Correspondence, 1921-1950
Series 3: Dutch Point Mercury Boiler Operational Records, 1923-1949
Subseries 3.1: Data Sheets and Reports, 1923-1927
Subseries 3.2: Log Books and Instructions, 1924-1949
Subseries 3.3: Photographs and Drawings, 1923-1927
Series 4: South Meadow Station Operational Records, 1928-1961
Subseries 4.1: Data Sheets and Reports, 1928-1961
Subseries 4.2: Log Books and Instructions, 1928-1955
Subseires 4.3: Photographs and Drawings, 1928,1955
Historical:
The mercury boiler was developed by a General Electric Company's engineer, William Le Roy Emmet, to use mercury fluid in conjunction with steam power to improve cycle efficiency in converting coal or oil to electric power. An experimental mercury-steam generating unit was installed by Hartford Electric Light Company in 1923 at Dutch Point, Connecticut. In June 1927, ground was broken for the South Meadow Station in Hartford, Connecticut, and Babcock and Wilcox Company was contracted for the boiler. This unit was the first commercial installation in the nation and was based on the data collected from the Dutch Point unit. The Dutch Point unit was damaged during the course of operations and was permanently shut down by Emmet in September 1927. Emmet requested that all efforts be focused on the South Meadow Station. In August 1947, the first commercial unit at South Meadow Station was taken out of service and disposed of, and a second unit was installed and put into use on January 1, 1949. The engineering company, Foster Wheeler, was used to help design the second unit. During inspections in 1959 and 1960, it was discovered that the second unit had a wastage issue, and the unit was then operated at half load capacity for the remainder of 1960. On January 4, 1961, the second unit was removed from operation, and on April 19, 1961 it was officially retired. The mercury was removed and sold to Woodbridge Chemical Corporation. The decision was made to not to replace it with another mercury unit.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning intellectual property rights. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution.
St. Joseph News-Press and Gazette (newspaper). Search this
Extent:
1.25 Cubic feet (5 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Logs (records)
Manuals
Technical manuals
Place:
Missouri -- 1970-1990
Date:
1979-1985
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists of records relating to the development of direct plate imager technology and its early use by the St. Joseph News Press and Gazette, credited with being a leader in the field of laser adaptation to computer reproduction of photographs for newspaper use. It consists primarily of maintenance manuals, maintenance logs and systems logs, and training notes over a period of about five years.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into four series.
Series 1: Maintenance logs, System logs
Series 2: Maintenance manuals
Series 3: Training Notes
Series 4: Miscellaneous
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Fertig was a technician at the St. Joseph News-Press and Gazette. The newspaper developed a direct plate imager technology and is credited with being a leader in the field of laser adaptation to computer reproduction of photographs for newspaper use.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Charles Fertig, April 8, 1988.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Electricity and Modern Physics, Division of, NMAH, SI. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1902-1923
Scope and Contents note:
Series 16, contains log books compiled by early wireless workers between 1907 and 1919. Also included is an unused bound amateur log book. The authors of the books are not identified in most cases. The logs record various tests and experiments with radio equipment.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but a portion of the collection remains unprocessed and is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs, negatives, and slides.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
George H. Clark Radioana Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
