Magic Lantern Slide: Hewittic Arc Rectifying Valve, Bridgwater Sub-Station 1935
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 with a more concise caption on another of his magic lantern slides (see 313/1977/125).
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 313/1977/124
- Collection Class
- Social and industrial history
- Material
- glasspaperphotographic emulsion
- Common Name
- Magic Lantern Slide: Hewittic Arc Rectifying Valve, Bridgwater Sub-Station 1935
- Simple Name
- slide
- Inscription Transcription
- handwritten 'Hewittic Arc Rectifying Valve, Bridgwater Sub-Station 1935.' on mount
- Period Classification
- Inter War (1918-1939)
- Production Country
- United Kingdom
- Production Date
- 1935
- Production Person Initials
- W. Weaver
- Production Person Surname
- Baker