Blueprint of Telegraph Electric Pole Wiring – United Edison Manufacturing Co.

Name/Title

Blueprint of Telegraph Electric Pole Wiring – United Edison Manufacturing Co.

Scope and Content

The blueprint presents an isometric view of a wooden utility pole with multiple crossbars, each supporting insulators and wiring connections. The labeled Pressure No. 1 and Feeder No. 2 lines indicate the voltage or current pathways for power distribution. The drawing is precisely measured and annotated, demonstrating the technical accuracy required for Edison’s electrical grid development. The image also features handwritten initials "M. G." in red ink, possibly denoting an engineer or inspector who reviewed the schematic.

Context

This November 1889 blueprint was created by the United Edison Manufacturing Company, located at No. 44 Wall St., New York—part of Thomas Edison’s expanding “empire” of companies and subsidiaries in and near New York City. It illustrates a detailed schematic of a telegraph or electrical pole used for distributing electrical power or communications through an early system of pressure and feeder lines. This document is a technical representation of Edison's electrical distribution network, which played a crucial role in the expansion of urban electric infrastructure in the late 19th century. As with the other blueprints in this collection, Latimer presumably took these home with him, either to do work at home or when he left his job at Edison in 1911.

Collection

Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]