Primary Battery

Edison Manufacturing Company; Orange, New Jersey

Data
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  • Year
  • 1911–1916
  • Category
  • Power supply/conditioner or battery or charger 
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 353281

 Technical Specifications

  • Wave bands
  • - without
  • Power type and voltage
  • Is a battery or storage battery / 0.8 to 1.2 Volt
  • Loudspeaker
  • - - No sound reproduction output.
  • Material
  • Various materials
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: Primary Battery - Edison Manufacturing Company;
  • Dimensions (WHD)
  • 5.25 x 8 x 5.25 inch / 133 x 203 x 133 mm
  • Notes

  • EDISON Primary Battery

    The components were made at the Edison factory in Orange, NJ along with assembly.

    Anode (-) Amalgamated Zinc Plates.

    Cathode (+) Black Oxide Copper briquette.

    Electrolyte Solution of caustic Potash (potassium hydroxide) normally 20% by weight solution.

    Voltage produced was between 0.8 and 1.2 VDC.

    The Edison Primary battery was preceded by the “S” type battery which was produced between 1916 and 1926.

    As such this battery would have been produced between 1911 and 1916.

    It had many applications from slot amusement listening tube phonographs, railroad signal equipment, telephone and telegraph use to portable lighting and fans. I am sure some also wound up in someone’s Ham shack back in the day. The battery design fell out of fashion being replaced by the Nickel-Iron (NiFe) rechargeable battery which was considered a Life-Long Battery that could last 30-50 years or more! It was not harmed by deep discharge or repeated cycling charges.

    In many ways this battery was superior to the Lead/Acid storage battery we use today as it has a very long life; and could be restored by changing the electrolyte and cleaning the plates. 

  • Author
  • Model page created by Robert Benson. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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The model Primary Battery is part of the collections of the following members.

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