Mr.Edison

[taz42o]

Found this ceramic piece in slag dump. It is 3 3/8 " wide and about 3" tall , broke at top and corner. 3/4" thick.
It reads...

trade
Thomas a Edison
reg. u.s Mark pat. off.
Thomas A. Edison
Orange.N.J.. i think u.s.a. is broke off


Any ideas what it is?

 

[72cheyenne]

Wow, it could be any number of things, electrical related of coarse. My guess is going to be part of an early fuse cut-out.
Maybe from something similar to this pic which is not an edison. http://www.cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=11&a=11Porcelain+Insulator+News.htm&year=1999

 

[taz42o]

Thanks for reply cheyenne but dont think thats it . The piece I have is flat and only 3/4" thick.
It has a sort of lip like it fit down into something else.
Here is a kinda blurry pic of back.

 

[chipveres]

Does it look like it could be part of a cylindrical beaker or tank? If so, it could part of a couple different batteries Edison was famous for.

Chip V.

 

[taz42o]

No there is nothing cylindrical about it its basically a square ,flat .
Top part is missing so it could have been square or rectangle .
It is flat on the face except the raised lettering.
The back is stepped around the edge like it was a lid or cover that fit into something else.
The only thing worse than my photography is my paint program skills but maybe the two together will help.

 

[Blacksheep]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

 

[72cheyenne]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

I agree it very much looks like a battery jar lid, but the wrench in the cog is that the lid has no holes for the lead wires coming from the plates.

Maybe contact these folks. http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/home.htm

 

[johnnyi]

My guess is possibly an early magneto side cover off a tracor or one lung engine.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

I agree it very much looks like a battery jar lid, but the wrench in the cog is that the lid has no holes for the lead wires coming from the plates.

No holes, like you said, plus the Edison battery lids are round. http://cgi.ebay.fr/EDISON-PRIMARY-BATTERY-PORCELAIN-LID_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ220369325256

This is an interesting find that IMO can be IDed.

 

[johnnyi]

I think it can be id'd too Cy. Until the sides are cleaned though, there's no telling whether or not there are holes in the sides for attaching whithin another housing.

(Taz, you said you found this in a dump. Did you run your detector over it just to confirm for sure that it is not cast aluminum or another alloy?)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks like some kind of cover with the Edison Trade Mark. I would guess electrical related because it appears to be porcelain, the same material widely used by Edison. Maybe a fuse cover held on by a wire clamp or a large amperage plug. Just guessing.

Better back and side pics may give us a clue. Taz push the button slowly, pausing to allow the lens to focus, all the time holding your camera steady. (I steady my camera on my elbows).

The first pic is not bad. Did you use a different camera?

 

[72cheyenne]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

I agree it very much looks like a battery jar lid, but the wrench in the cog is that the lid has no holes for the lead wires coming from the plates.

No holes, plus like you said, the Edison battery lids are round. http://cgi.ebay.fr/EDISON-PRIMARY-BATTERY-PORCELAIN-LID_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ220369325256

This is an interesting find that IMO can be IDed.

Blacksheeps link claims that it is a "Square Edison Battery Jar", but there is no close-up pic of the lid, and only shows the packaging with Edison on it. If the piece in question had holes it would without a doubt be a battery jar lid, but like we have pointed out, there isn't. I am going to stick with my first guess of part of a fuse cutout, or possibly a piece of a dry spot type insulator. I will continue to look though.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

I agree it very much looks like a battery jar lid, but the wrench in the cog is that the lid has no holes for the lead wires coming from the plates.

No holes, plus like you said, the Edison battery lids are round. http://cgi.ebay.fr/EDISON-PRIMARY-BATTERY-PORCELAIN-LID_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ220369325256

This is an interesting find that IMO can be IDed.

Blacksheeps link claims that it is a "Square Edison Battery Jar", but there is no close-up pic of the lid, and only shows the packaging with Edison on it. If the piece in question had holes it would without a doubt be a battery jar lid, but like we have pointed out, there isn't. I am going to stick with my first guess of part of a fuse cutout, or possibly a piece of a dry spot type insulator. I will continue to look though.

Ah OK I see now the bag is marked with the Edison Trademark. Best not to post in a rush. I was searching the museum link and couldnt find a square one. But like you say, -no holes.

 

[Blacksheep]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

I agree it very much looks like a battery jar lid, but the wrench in the cog is that the lid has no holes for the lead wires coming from the plates.

No holes, plus like you said, the Edison battery lids are round. http://cgi.ebay.fr/EDISON-PRIMARY-BATTERY-PORCELAIN-LID_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ220369325256

This is an interesting find that IMO can be IDed.

Blacksheeps link claims that it is a "Square Edison Battery Jar", but there is no close-up pic of the lid, and only shows the packaging with Edison on it. If the piece in question had holes it would without a doubt be a battery jar lid, but like we have pointed out, there isn't. I am going to stick with my first guess of part of a fuse cutout, or possibly a piece of a dry spot type insulator. I will continue to look though.

Ah OK I see now the bag is marked with the Edison Trademark. Best not to post in a rush. I was searching the museum link and couldnt find a square one. But like you say, -no holes.

I missed the pic with the dimensions added ("duh" moment). I had originally thought it was a broken-off corner and posted the link/pic using that reasoning. Apologies.

Still searching this one.

 

[72cheyenne]

Possibly the ceramic lid for a glass jar battery (as chipveres noted), here is one that's similar. Wish
the picture was a bit clearer, hope this helps.

http://www.stonevintageradio.com/description.php?II=390&UID=2009091708340376.229.197.156

I agree it very much looks like a battery jar lid, but the wrench in the cog is that the lid has no holes for the lead wires coming from the plates.

No holes, plus like you said, the Edison battery lids are round. http://cgi.ebay.fr/EDISON-PRIMARY-BATTERY-PORCELAIN-LID_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ220369325256

This is an interesting find that IMO can be IDed.

Blacksheeps link claims that it is a "Square Edison Battery Jar", but there is no close-up pic of the lid, and only shows the packaging with Edison on it. If the piece in question had holes it would without a doubt be a battery jar lid, but like we have pointed out, there isn't. I am going to stick with my first guess of part of a fuse cutout, or possibly a piece of a dry spot type insulator. I will continue to look though.

Ah OK I see now the bag is marked with the Edison Trademark. Best not to post in a rush. I was searching the museum link and couldnt find a square one. But like you say, -no holes.

I missed the pic with the dimensions added ("duh" moment). I had originally thought it was a broken-off corner and posted the link/pic using that reasoning. Apologies.

Still searching this one.

No need for apologies. Besides you are the only one to find a pic of a square Edison battery jar.

 

[taz42o]

I have done more cleaning on this item and found where a hole went through it. It is at the top in the center where its broke off . So if the hole was in the center of unbroken item then that would have made overall dimensions about 6" by 3 3/8". I will try to get better pics soon. It may have been a batt. cover . It is porcelain not metal.
Whatever it is I bet it is in this list at link below. Many of the items from this list have been on this property at one time or another. From railroad and telegraph to rock crushers and screeners, motors ,generators.

Was the Thomas Edison orange nj trade mark only used on electrical items. Being porcelain im assuming it is for an electric item.

http://www.fullbooks.com/Edison-His-Life-and-Inventions17.html

 

[taz42o]

Here are some better pics. You can see where the hole was and also the stepped lip.
Thanks every one for the help.

 

[72cheyenne]

I believe that you do have a rectangular battery jar cover then.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I believe that you do have a rectangular battery jar cover then.

The new pics do it for me. Maybe the square ones were made later. It is half an Edison ceramic battery cover. Blacksheep made the ID. Chipverdes the idea. Green check.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

taz,

If you feel this is solved,

Go back to your original post,

Click on Modify,

Click on Message icon down arrow,

Click on Solved,

The Green Check will appear

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,259097.0.html