Power Companies Promote Electricity as Life-Changing Innovation in 1920s

Apr 21, 2025
Smithsonian Magazine
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Summary

Power companies market electricity as a revolutionary innovation in the 1920s, touting its ability to increase efficiency, prevent accidents, and reduce labor, while New York Edison constructs a massive new facility capable of generating 770,000 kilowatt-hours.

Key Points

  • Electricity companies had to convince people of the usefulness of their product when it first emerged
  • An ad from 1920 highlights how electricity increases efficiency, prevents accidents, and reduces labor
  • New York Edison built a new power facility in 1920 that could generate 770,000 kilowatt-hours

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