Warner’s Electric Gauge

Warner Elect Gauge SET_ADV_1887_lg The gauge may be used to measure the strength of a cell in a battery used for electric clock systems during the period the first electric clocks were introduced in the United States. Set Gauge back side Without dismantling the pocket watch size meter with the snap-back removed, two small series connected electromagnets can be seen. The  pole pieces are arranged to form a flux gap.  A curved armature pivoted on the the axis of a toothed segment is attracted to the flux gap when the electromagnets are energized. A spiral hair-spring opposes the rotation of the toothed segment carrying the armature .  The toothed segment engages a  pinion mounted on the axis of the pointer. Gauge adjusted Experiment with a single flashlight cell causes the needle pointer to rotate clockwise about forty-five degrees pointing to the middle of the scale. I believe the gauge likely has a full scale reading of less than three volts based on the logic of the electrical potential of the  LeClanche (zinc-carbon) cells or the lead-acid cells commonly making up telephone and clock system batteries of the pre-900 industrial period.    Note the serial number, 2634 on the face and compare with number 22 in the advertisement.   This would suggest that Warner’s Electric Gauge was a widely used service  tool in primary battery systems. The gauge was listed on eBay. I bid and lost. Several days later, while visiting Dave O’Dell, I noticed the gauge on his workbench.  The identity of winning auction bidder J3442’s  was revealed.  Thanks Dave.

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