Abstract
THE late Dr. S. Z. de Ferranti at the age of eighteen was the principal founder of the original company of Ferranti, Thomson and Ince in Charterhouse Square, London, in 1882. It is a little difficult to realise that there was then a great demand for electric meters. Messrs. Ferranti, Ltd., now of Hollinwood, Manchester, held an exhibition at Bush House, London, during June to commemorate their jubilee. The fifty years's life-story of the firm shown by the historical exhibits is largely a history of the development of public electricity supply. A particularly interesting exhibit was the earliest models of Ferranti meters, some of which have only recently been taken out of service. The new methods of hardening the pivots and burnishing them so as to get the exact shape with the help of a micrometer jewel examiner with a powerful microscope were shown in action. New devices rendered necessary by the 132-kilovolt grid scheme in Great Britain were shown in action. An even more recent development is the manufacture of electric clocks, which are now made quite cheaply, of all sizes and shapes with cases of bakelite, wood, or metal. A prominent feature of the radio exhibit was a new seven-valve receiving set. A full range of water heaters and fires were shown. A working model of the Ferranti hot-water system for a house employing those heaters was shown. The ‘‘Era fire which Ferranti's make is said to be ideal for devices for hatching chickens (chicken brooders). The machines used at the Ferranti works in Hollinwood are of the most modern design, and employ more than five thousand workmen.
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Jubilee of the Ferranti Works. Nature 130, 124 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/130124c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/130124c0