August 1883 Ship gets lighting
 

check out the pictures of the Starboard watch at the time the
installed lighting. A motley mean looking crew, no wonder they chose
that ship first, Id hate to see the Port watch

http://www.lightboard.net/index.cfm?...TOKEN=97503960

Here's the story: check out the last line!

The first installation of electric lights in a US Navy warship took
place during the summer of 1883. Earlier that spring, seven electric
power companies were asked by the Bureau of Navigation to submit bids
for installing lights in USS Trenton, then currently berthed at the
New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn. Only one, the Edison Company for
Isolated Lighting, submitted a bid of $5,500 to install one L dynamo &
one Armington-Sims engine complete to supply light via insulated
wiring to 104 16-candle power lamps, 130 10-candle power lamps, and 4
32-candle power lamps. The ensuing contract also included 238 key
sockets, 6 extra brushes, 1 automatic regulator and 1 dynamo
foundation. Lieutenant.Commander. R. B. Bradford, executive officer of
the ship, oversaw the installation of this equipment in Trenton
between 7 June and 21 August 1883. Owing to the need to maintain the
engine and dynamo, the system was only run at night.
Other than minor wiring problems, the initial trial during Trenton's
service on the Asiatic Station was a success and in 1884 the Bureau of
Navigation decided to light Atlanta, Boston and Omaha. The plant for
these ships were supplied, respectively, by the U.S. Electric Lighting
Company of New York, the Brush Electric Company of Cleveland, and the
Consolidated Electric Light Company of New York.

In 1886, the Bureau of Navigation reported that "this method of
lighting ships of war, owing to the small amount of heat given off,
the absence of disagreeable odors, and the more perfect illumination,
adds much to the health and comfort of the officers and men, tends to
make them contented and happy during their long absences from home and
friends, promotes discipline and prevents crime."


Joe