IEEE.org | IEEE Xplore Digital Library | IEEE Standards Association | IEEE Spectrum | More IEEE Sites

IEEE Global History Network > Topic Articles > Early Electrification of Buffalo: Contributions of Five AIEE Presidents

Early Electrification of Buffalo: Contributions of Five AIEE Presidents

SHARE |

From GHN

Revision as of 17:26, 29 January 2009 by Nbrewer (Talk | contribs)

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Jump to: navigation, search

This is Part 13 of a 14 part article.

It is important to note the contributions of five men associated with the Cataract Construction Company who became presidents of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, one of the predecessors of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Figure 13.1 Arthur E. Kennelly

Figure 13.2 Charles F. Scott

Dr. Arthur E. Kennelly President 1898-1900 -- hired as a consultant 1894 and 1895 concerning the radius of electric power distribution that might be considered reasonably profitable by the use of high-voltage alternating current [Fig. 13.1].ⁱ

Charles F. Scott President 1902-1903 -- Westinghouse electrical engineer – developed the ‘Scott connection’ for connecting two single

Figure 13.3 Lewis B. Stillwell

Figure 13.4 Paul M. Lincoln

phase transformers to convert two-phase four-wire current to three-phase three-wire [Fig. 13.2]. Technical consultant to Edward Dean Adams during the writing of his two-volume ‘Niagara Power’.ⁱⁱ

Lewis B. Stillwell President 1909-1910 -- In March 1897 resigned his position as chief electrical engineer and assistant manager of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. to become Electrical Director of Cataract Construction. Resigned in September 1900 after the completion of Power House 1 [Fig. 13.3].ⁱⁱⁱ

Figure 13.5 Power House 2 Synchroscope (indicated by arrow)

Paul M. Lincoln President 1914-1915 -- Westinghouse engineer - joined Cataract Construction 1896 to 1902 as operating superintendent and later as resident electrician [Fig. 13.4]. Involved with Power House 1 and transmission to Buffalo. Invented the synchroscope [Fig. 13.5]. Returned to Westinghouse and later became Professor-Director in charge of Department of Electrical Engineering at Cornell.^iv

Figure 13.6 Harold W. Buck

Figure 13.7 Test of the First 'Suspension Type' Strain Insulator by Harold W. Buck (top), at Schenectady, New York, November 24, 1905. This Insulator Replaced the Largest Size of Porcelain Petticoat or Pin-type Insulator (bottom)

Harold W. Buck President 1916-1917-- Engineer with General Electric. Electrical Engineer for Cataract Construction September 1901 to December 1907 in responsible charge of the allied power companies [Fig. 13.6]. He was instrumental in the development of suspension type insulators [Fig13.7].^v All prior insulators were pin type.

Next: Early Residential Electric Bill

References

i. Adams, Niagara Power, 1:282, 288. Adams, Niagara Power, 2:270.

ii. Adams, Niagara Power, 1:282, 288. Adams, Niagara Power, 2:270.

iii. Adams, Niagara Power, 1:284. Adams, Niagara Power, 2: 202-203, 287.

iv. Adams, Niagara Power, 1:287-288. Adams, Niagara Power 2:201-202. Paul M. Lincoln, “Synchronism and Frequency Indication,” Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers 18, (1901): 255.

v. Adams, Niagara Power, 1:285, 288. Adams, Niagara Power, 2:214, 283, 354.

Page created by Cawoody, 8 September 2008
Contributors: Cawoody x4, Azalma x12, Nbrewer x3, Nmolnar x1, Administrator1 x9, Kwiggins x1, Rnarayan x3
Last modified by Administrator1, 22 March 2011

Retrieved from "http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki6/index.php/Early_Electrification_of_Buffalo:_Contributions_of_Five_AIEE_Presidents"