What Does Noble & Cooley Have In Common With Downton Abbey? Hint: It's Shocking!

In 1925 Noble & Cooley installed the latest in electrical equipment: a British-made Lister Bruston engine and generator to supply electricity to the factory in Granville. Meanwhile at fictitious Downton Abbey Lord Grantham installed what would have been a very similar (although entirely imaginary) generator, resulting in various comical reactions to the new technology. The most likely installation would have been Lister Bruston, a favorite among the aristocracy. Click on any image below to see a larger version.

Above: Partial list of Lister Bruston installations, including the church at Balmoral.

Above: The 1925 Noble & Cooley Lister engine

Flashing forward to 2016, the NCCHP archives project recently unearthed the complete, original Lister Bruston papers associated with the Granville installation, including brochures, price and customer lists, and extensive correspondence relating to the installation process. We have begun digitizing the documents and have added the first to the NCCHP photo site, which you can visit by CLICKING HERE.

Above: Cover of original 30+ page Lister Bruston brochure.

 

Above: Original electric panel. Yes, it all still works.

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