Magic Lantern Slide: Bridgwater Sub-Station
This image shows a mercury arc rectifier in use at the electricity substation at Bridgwater in Somerset. Mercury arc rectifiers were used to convert electricity from AC to DC and glow a bright blue colour when in use. This slide was produced by William Weaver Baker in 1935, who generally focused his work on buildings and objects in Exeter where he lived.
He was also interested in the technicalities of photography and produced a series of slides in which he experimented with different forms of lighting. This perhaps suggests why he took this image. There is a duplicate of this photo on another of his magic lantern slides with a handwritten note stating the manufacturer was Hewittic Electric Co (see 313/1977/124).
He was also interested in the technicalities of photography and produced a series of slides in which he experimented with different forms of lighting. This perhaps suggests why he took this image. There is a duplicate of this photo on another of his magic lantern slides with a handwritten note stating the manufacturer was Hewittic Electric Co (see 313/1977/124).
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 313/1977/125
- Collection Class
- Social and industrial history
- Material
- glasspaperphotographic emulsion
- Common Name
- Magic Lantern Slide: Bridgwater Sub-Station
- Simple Name
- slide
- Inscription Transcription
- handwritten 'Bridgwater Sub-Station.' on mount
- Period Classification
- Inter War (1918-1939)
- Production Country
- United Kingdom
- Production Date
- 1935
- Production Person Initials
- W. Weaver
- Production Person Surname
- Baker