On the 140th Anniversary of the International Exhibition of Electricity, Paris, 1881. Part 2: The Most Understandable Lesson

  • Dmitry A. BORODIN
Keywords: International Exhibition of Electricity in Paris, 1881, the First International Congress of Electricians, Yablochkov's lighting system, Edison's lighting system

Abstract

This exhibition, which was dedicated solely to electricity, pursued primarily scientific, technical and educational goals. The commercial component was in the second place. Under the banner of the new science, thousands of scientists, engineers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts from different countries and continents succeeded to unite for the first time and clearly show the whole world the prospects for development in the near future. The First International Congress of Electricians, held within the framework of the exhibition, overcame scientific and state differences and developed a unified approach to electrical units. The International Electrical Exhibition was a kind of the electrical engineering community crystallization point, a platform for its consolidation, the unity of which the time was unable to destroy. The first part of the article [1] shows the great efforts done by the organizing committee on preparing the electrical exhibition. Special attention is paid to the exhibition expositions, its main halls and pavilions. Testimonials of eyewitnesses of those events are given. The second part is devoted to the 1st International Congress of Electricians, its main objectives and results. It tells about Thomas Edison's lighting system, which became the central event of the exhibition. The final event of the exhibition on awarding participants is described.

Author Biography

Dmitry A. BORODIN

(LLC «Engineering Center «Ruselprom») – Leading Design Engineer, Cand. Sci. (Eng.)

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#
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Published
2021-09-15
Section
From the history of electrical engineering