DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRICITY METER, 1930's

The National Grid was introduced in 1926. Power Stations such as Battersea, built in 1933, were to supply a grid of constant power to the entire nation. However building the plants and installing the power lines took nearly ten years.

Some homes up to the Second World War were still using gas or limited electricity from local private companies, some supplying Direct Current of 110 volts. Early wireless's would be battery only, and DC was more convenient.

This equipment was driven by an escapement which was wound up by the supply electrically, this drove the dials, their movement was controlled by two pendulums moving over the coils carrying the supply current, the more current drawn the faster the pendulums would swing, in a circular movement above the coils, this in turn moved the dials . No current at all, no movement.

Your comments:

• Just to comment that as late as 1964 and possibly until 1968, the row of shops on the south side of Battersea Park Road, opposite Battersea College of Technology were on 90 volts direct current
  .......... Dr Fred Starr, London, 26th of May 2012
  
  

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