Glass lead-acid batteries and unknown DC machine?

[DMahalko]

I only had a very short time to visit WMSTR on Monday of this year, and around 3:30pm people are already shutting down, so I was dashing through the last few open buildings looking at stuff, which included the Otto engines building.


Going back over my video, I spot a rather interesting collection of old electrical technology. Is there a specific reason this hardware is located in the Otto building?


These tall skinny containers look to me like lead-acid batteries, which started out as field-repairable devices with giant plates of lead hanging inside huge open-top glass jars:

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/DMahalko/WMSTR%20Stuff/Otto-Glass-Batteries-1.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/DMahalko/WMSTR%20Stuff/Otto-Glass-Batteries-2.jpg




Also I see now that there's a commutated DC machine in the corner, could be a motor or generator. Doesn't look like it is hooked up to do anything:

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/DMahalko/WMSTR%20Stuff/Otto-Commutated-DC-device.jpg

(This is ending up in this topic because there is no "Antique Electrical Systems" forum..)

- Dale

[DMahalko]

Here's another I recorded by accident in the Otto building, and just noticed.

This one is pretty "small" for the open frame design, but it's still probably 5 hp or so. Hard to tell if it is AC or DC, or a motor or dynamo.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/DMahalko/Anotherlittledynamo.jpg

[mrnewway]

Dale: The battery's are to provide the dc power to the engines for thier ignition systems. ( at each location is a common lead acid battery and a battery charger set below the Glass(plastic) jar batteries as the glass batteries are for apperance only.
The motors you see in the OTTO BUILDING are just motors that have been collected thru the years none are connected to power.
The other electrical devices it is the same thing. Just conversation pieces.
Hope this helps to answear your questions.