"The object of the invention is to automatically maintain a balance or quilibrium in the number of lamps between two circuits" in 3-wire system. Uses electromagnetic relay to switch electrical loads from one side to the other, says there should be a device like this for every ten houses or so, though fewer needed in a large distribution system than in a small one. Detailed description follows, but no dwg. This seems to be generally the basis for US Pat 283,983 but see also 283,984 and 287,517 filed slightly earlier. SEE IF ANY OF THESE PATENT DRAWINGS MATCH THE DESCRIPTION IN TEXT.

Edison, Thomas Alva

Seely, Henry W

1883-03-04

1880-1889

Patent Application

Carbon, coal, glass, ceramics

Incandescent lamp

Electrical distribution system

NM018AAD

NM018

[NM018AAD], Patent Application, Thomas Alva Edison, March 4th, 1883

44:540

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University