Battery Charger [Tungar]
Maker and role
The General Electric Company Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 1925
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1979.78
Production period
Description
Tungar bulb battery charger. Black, ironclad box shaped charger. Charger has a raised handle on top with an exposed slit beneath. Inner glass bulb can be seen within the slit. The long sides of the charger are flat. One of the short ends has a makers plate affixed, the other short end has a screw socket attachment with a single electrical wire insulated in black plastic. At the end of the wire is a metal clamp with a spring in the middle of the teeth.
Brief History
The Tungar battery charger is named after the Tungar rectifying bulb used to convert alternating current (AC) mains power to direct current (DC) power. The Tungar bulb was developed by the General Electric Company (USA) in 1916. It uses tungsten filaments and argon gas, hence the name Tungar (TUNG-sten + AR-gon). High voltage Tungar bulbs use mercury vapour instead of argon. The bulb acts as a one-way valve, only allowing electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode during half of the AC cycle thus rectifying the current to only flow in one direction (DC).
The primary components of the battery charger consist of the Tungar rectifier to convert AC to DC, and a transformer to step down the voltage to the appropriate level. An Edison screw socket at the front of the unit allows connection to the converted DC power.
The Tungar battery charger was manufactured by the General Electric Company (USA) c.1925. General Electric was formed through the merger of the Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company in 1892. The merger was financially backed by Drexel, Morgan & Co.
The primary components of the battery charger consist of the Tungar rectifier to convert AC to DC, and a transformer to step down the voltage to the appropriate level. An Edison screw socket at the front of the unit allows connection to the converted DC power.
The Tungar battery charger was manufactured by the General Electric Company (USA) c.1925. General Electric was formed through the merger of the Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Company in 1892. The merger was financially backed by Drexel, Morgan & Co.
Marks
TUNGAR/ RED IN U.S. PAT OFFICE/ BATTERY CHARGER/ PAT 279174 G.E./ VOLTS A.D. 230 VOLTS O.C.6- 00/ AMP 2-25 CYCLES 40-50 Maker's Mark
Made in England Engraved
Made in England Engraved
Media/Materials
Credit Line
The General Electric Company Limited. Circa 1925. Battery Charger [Tungar], 1979.78. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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