User:JRBC1/John Henry Holmes

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New article name is John Henry Holmes 1857-1935 - Engineer, Inventor and Quaker

John Henry Holmes is best known as the inventor of the modern day quick break electric light switch [1] [2] [3] now found in millions of buildings throughout the world. Prior to his invention, light switches were notorious for arcing and burning out due to the frequent slow "breaking" action of the switch contacts. Holmes overcame this problem by inventing a switch which would always make a "quick break" between the contacts, however quickly or slowly the user turned off the switch.

Holmes is also famous for installing electric lighting at 'Wellburn', his father's house at Jesmond, one of the first private houses in Newcastle to be electrically lit. As well as the quick-break switch, J H Holmes and Co was famous for its "Castle" Dynamo [4].

The J.H. Holmes & Co. "Castle" Dynamo. Image authorship unknown
A 200 HP J.H. Holmes & Co Large "Castle" Dynamo Under Test with a Willans Robinson Motor - 1893, as published in the 'Electrical Review' Volume 32, 1893, page 625. Image authorship unknown.

The company also developed electrical lighting systems for trains [5] and electrical systems for the Suez Canal.

Holmes' numerous other inventions and products include:

Devices for Detecting Gas in Coal Mines [6]

Improvements in the Control of Electic Motors [7] and Related Equipment [8]

Improvements in Electrical Switches and Automatic Circuit Breakers [9]

Multi-Position Switches [10]

Custom Lamp Holders [11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Double Break Switch Designed by J.H. Holmes and First Used in 1883. Source Imagine.org.uk.
  2. ^ Turqoise Porcelain Quick Break Switch Source Imagine.org.uk
  3. ^ Holmes Quick-Break Switch US Patent No. 305310 (Source Google Patents). Original patent is GB Patent No. 3256 of 1884
  4. ^ 'Electrical Review' Volume 32, 1893, page 625. Source: Google Books
  5. ^ Holmes 1890 US Patent covering Electric Lighting in Trains
  6. ^ Devices for Detecting Gas in Coal Mines (Source: Espacenet June 3rd 2010)
  7. ^ Improvements in the Control of Electic Motors Date: 1906 (Source: Espacenet June 3rd 2010)
  8. ^ Improvements in Control Equipment for Electic Motors Date: 1906 (Source: Espacenet June 3rd 2010)
  9. ^ Improvements in Electrical Switches and Automatic Circuit Breakers (Source: Espacenet June 3rd 2010)
  10. ^ Multi-Position Switches, Source: Imagine.org.uk June 3rd 2010
  11. ^ Custom Lamp Holder, Source: Imagine.org.uk June 3rd 2010

[1] England's North East by David Simpson

[2] The Millenium History of North East England by David Simpson

[3] Entrepreneur - "Our Past is So Full of Interest"

[4] Holmes' Quick-Break Switch US Patent No. 305,310. Original patent is GB Patent No. 3256 of 1884

[5] Holmes 1890 US Patent covering Electric Lighting in Trains

External links[edit]

[6] Friends of Jesmond Old Cemetery

[7] Ouseburn - Shieldfield (Newcastle) website



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