Exhibits and Collections
The Steinmetz Electric Car
Watch the Video of the Steinmetz Electric Car (5.1MB)
Courtesy of WNYT, Channel 13
The Steinmetz car, built in 1914, is on display at the Edison Exploratorium.
The Steinmetz Canoe
Steinmetz spent many a day on the Mohawk River in this canoe. Perhaps his best engineering work was discovered while seated in this thirteen foot wooden boat. The Exploratorium is very proud to display this piece to show us how men like Steinmetz lived as well as worked.
Early Theater Lighting
An electric arc light used in the 1920's to light the stage at Proctors' Theater is on display.
Photos
Extensive photo collections featuring Charles Steinmetz (including pictures taken by Steinmetz himself), his home and camp, other notable Schenectadians (including Edison, Alexanderson, and Langmuir), and most recently added - a collection of photographs taken at General Electric by Works News Photographer Lou DiCerbo.
Progress in Audio Recording
An exhibit designed as a Senior Project by Union College Seniors Christopher Ercoli and Jonathan Hammond. Read all about it at their Senior Project Design Page (external link)
Microwaves
How did they go from the military to the kitchen? The magnetron was invented in 1921 by Dr. Albert Hull.
Lights
From a bamboo filament to LEDs and new CCFLs.
Claude Seward Mural
Claude is painting a tribute to pioneers of technology - Langmuir, Alexanderson, Sprague, Steenstrup, Whitney, Coolidge, Thomson, Steinmetz and Edison. This 12x16 foot painting is being done in acrylics on canvas and will be moved to a place of prominence when the permanent Edison Exploratorium is built.
He is shown here working on the background at the top of the mural being painted at the Edison Exploratorium. The views below show him working on the very detailed portraits and artifact illustrations. He is meticulous in researching each piece and making it as historically accurate as possible.
Bamboo Display
Thomas Edison purchased bamboo in Japan to use in various inventions, the best known being the early incandescent light bulb. In researching that connection we learned that there are many modern uses for bamboo and have featured just a few of them in one of our public display windows.
Did you know that the American Bamboo Society (external link) is right here in the capital district? Check out their website.
Union College Project
Union College Sophomores Zach Smith and Peter Katlic have a project to compare resistance control with PWM control in terms smoothness of drive and avoiding jumps in going from one voltage to another using a 1965 motor bike. A continuing phase will allow building a current controller so that the maximum space for battery pack mounting is available. Read all about it here (external link)
