Rare Patent 1905 Early Electric History,Technology, & Invention GE Chafing Dish Inventor Marsh

An Artifact of Innovation: The General Electric Electric Chafing Dish (c. 1905)

Own a genuine piece of American industrial history. This stunning General Electric electric chafing dish, with its elegant ornate feet and handle, dates back to the very dawn of practical household electricity. It is not just a serving dish; it's a testament to a pivotal moment in technology.

The Dawn of Electrical Living: Genera Electric in the Early 1900s

Your GE Chafing Dish is a fascinating piece of American electrical history. General Electric, a company inspired by Thomas Edison, was instrumental in bringing electricity from simple lighting into everyday household life.

Pioneering Products: In the early 1900s GE began expanding its offerings beyond light bulbs and fans. In 1905, they introduced the first commercial toaster and by 1907, they marketed a full line of electric heating and cooking devices including griddles, coffeemakers, and chafing dishes

The "Edison Plug": The most telling sign of an early electric appliance is the type of plug it used. In 1906, homes were primarily wired for lighting. As a result, early appliances like this would have had an "Edison plug" designed to screw into a light socket, as wall outlets were not yet standardized or common

A Novelty Becomes a Staple: At the time electric cooking was a novelty, often demonstrated in model homes wired by GE in Schenectady, NY, to show off the possibilities of "electrical living" Manufacturers often designed these early electric items to look like their non-electric counterparts (like the ornate feet on you chafing dish) to make consumers feel more comfortable with the new technology

Innovation and Mergers: GE's heating device division was eventually merged with other pioneering companies like Hotpoint (known for electric irons and ranges) to form the Edison Electric Appliance Company in 1918, solidifying their place in the burgeoning appliance market.

The most important detail for collectors is that this item is a tangible example of the new technology that GE was rapidly developing and patenting at the time, moving past lighting into home appliances. This rich history of innovation makes this chafing dish more than just a serving item; it is a genuine artifact from the period when electricity was first transforming the American kitchen.

The patent for an "Electric cooker" was filed in June 1905 and another for a heating device was patented in July 1906. These early patents focused on creating durable, high-resistance electric conductors that could safely produce heat in a household setting.

The Story Behind the Stamp

Stamped with the patent date 'PAT.APR.18.1905," this item incorporates the revolutionary invention of the nichrome nickel-chromium heating element alloy. This was the first material durable enough to be used safely in electric appliances

◦ This patent was applied for by engineer Albert L. Marsh and owned by GE

• Marsh's invention laid the foundation for virtually every modern electric toaster heater, and cooking appliance

This piece represents GE's initial, high-end foray into domestic electric heating appliances, predating the later "El" brand names. It is a rare find in exceptional condition.

Key Details

◦ Manufacturer: General Electric Co. Schenectady, New York

◦ Era: Early 1900s (confirmed by paten date)

Condition: Excellent antique condition all original parts (minus the cord) are present.

Features: Ornate design features, high- quality metal construction

Details and Specifications

Manufacturer: General Electric Co. (G.E.), Schenectady, N.Y., U.S.A.

Type: L-12

• Electrical Ratings:

Volts: 105-115 V

◦ Amps: 5.25 A

• Patent Date: Pat. Apr. 18. 1905

Market Comparison: Online prices for general GE warming trays vary widely, but highly detailed, pre-1920s silver- plated chafing dishes from known makers can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars in some high-end antique markets. This item, with its specific GE provenance and patent stamp, falls into a more valuable category than a generic modern or mid- century item.

Authenticity and Age: The patent stamp clearly establishes the piece as a genuine antique from the very beginning of the electric appliance era, a time when such items were luxury goods

Early GE Involvement: GE began marketing a full line of heating and cooking devices in 1907. They later merged with George A. Hughes, an entrepreneur who experimented with early electric ranges, and Earl Richardson, the inventor of the Hotpoint iron, to form the Hotpoint brand in 1918.

The patent date on your item is for an early electrical product design from a time when GE was still developing its appliance ines.Albert L. Marsh Patent

• Inventor: Albert L. Marsh

• Patent Date: April 18, 1905

Significance: This alloy was highly resistant to oxidation and could withstand high temperatures, making it the ideal material for electric heatinc elements.

Impact: This invention was crucial because it enabled the mass production of reliable and practical electric heating appliances like the chafing dish you have. Before this, most heating appliances were unreliable or short- lived.

So, while General Electric owned the patent, it was one of their engineers, Albert Marsh, who made the electric chafing dish possible. The patent stamp on this item acknowledges the fundamental heating technology used inside it

Historical Significance: This item is an artifact of the revolutionary Albert L Marsh patent for nichrome wire, a pivotal invention that enabled durable electric heating. This narrative significantly increases its appeal to collectors and history enthusiasts.

Ornate Design: The "ornate feet" and handle suggest a higher-end model, possibly silver-plated, which adds aesthetic and material value compared to plainer models.

Historical Context

The patent date corresponds to a significant era in the development of electric appliances. In the early 1900s General Electric was pioneering small electric kitchen devices, including the first commercially produced electric toaster in 1908. 

Albert L. Marsh (1877-1944) was an American metallurgist widely acclaimed as he "father of the electrical heating industry" for his groundbreaking invention of nichrome wire.

Key Inventions and Impact

Nichrome (Chromel): In 1905. while working at Hoskins Manufacturing Company, Marsh perfected an alloy combining approximately 80% nickel and 20% chromium. This material was revolutionary because it could be heated to a cherry-red glow by an electric current repeatedly in the presence of oxygen without burning out or breaking, a significant problem with earlier electric heating elements.

Enabling Modern Appliances: Marsh's durable and safe heating element laid the foundation for virtually all modern electric heating devices. Within a few years of his patent (granted in 1906 with number 811,859), companies like General Electric were able to produce reliable electric toasters, chafing dishes, space heaters, and more

• Other Work: Alongside his business partner William Hoskins, he also developed a new, more efficient method for producing high-purity aluminum. 

Career and Legacy

• Career Path: Marsh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1901. He served as chief engineer and general manager of Hoskins Manufacturing Company in Detroit and was named the firm's president in 1915.

Recognition: He was honored with the John Price Wetheril I Medal from The Franklin Institute in 1936 and the Alber- Sauveur Award for outstanding metallurgical achievement in 1941, acknowledging his pivotal contributions to material science and engineering.

Marsh's quiet, pioneering work in material science fundamentally changed daily life by making safe and durable electric heat accessible for household use.

The date stamped on this item, April 18, 1905, is likely the application date for the patent.

◦ The actual patent for the nichrome alloy (US Patent 811,859) was officially granted to Albert L. Marsh on February 6.1906.

Companies often marked items with the patent-pending date (the application date) while waiting for the patent to be formally approved and issued. This was a common legal practice at the time.

So, the stamp on this piece probably refers to Marsh's groundbreaking invention of the heating element material that made the item possible, even though the final patent wasn't officially issued until the following year.

Here is the abstract and first claim for US Patent 811,859 granted to Albert L. Marsh for his electric resistance element

US811859A: Electric resistance element

Abstract:

An electric resistance element is described as an alloy consisting of one of the metals from the chromium group (like chromium itself) and more than fifty percent of a metal with the properties of nickel or cobalt. This material. now known as nichrome, was revolutionary because it resisted oxidation when heated to high temperatures by an electric current, making it suitable for use in practical heating appliances.

Disclaimer: This item is a historical collector's piece. The original electrical components and wiring are over a century old. For your safety, the item is sold as a display piece only and must be inspected and professionally rewired by a qualified electrician before any attempt to use it electrically.

$950