Paul Seiler obtained a patent for his insulator design in 1877. But has anyone heard of the Paul Seiler Electrical Works?

I was hiking on one of those beautiful Spring afternoons in San Francisco this year when I first learned of the Paul Seiler Electrical Works. I had come through Chinatown to North Beach and on down to Fisherman's Wharf, just to savor the aromas of each area: the fish and pork of Chinatown, the pasta and salami of North Beach, and the sourdough and boiling crabs of Fisherman's Wharf.

Anyway, from Fisherman's Wharf I decided to go West towards the Golden Gate Bridge. Upon arriving at that rust red landmark, I noticed old Fort Point (right under the bridge) was open, so in I wandered to see the museum.

There, in that cold, dark brick and concrete room, out of place among the sabers and cannonballs, in a display case sat a Hercules Battery jar which was supplied by the Paul Seiler Electrical Works, 406 and 408 Market St., San Francisco, Calif.! The description card stated that the battery jar had been found in an old building which had survived the earthquake and fire of 1906. I have my camera with me always, and was lucky to get a photo (left) of the jar in that dark room.

The next day found me at the main library down- town going through the old San Francisco Directories. I found Paul Seiler listed as a telegraph instrument maker with William Lundberg for the years 1871 and 1872. From 1873 to 1877 he is listed as a foreman with the Electrical Construction and Maintenance Company of San Francisco. In 1878 Seiler is listed as an electrician and mechanician with the California Electrical Works which bought out the E.C.& M. Co. S.F. He is last listed with Cal. Elec. Works in 1888 as a superintendant and manager. The directory then lists the Paul Seiler Electrical Works from 1889 to 1916.

Below are excerpts from copies of ads from the San Francisco directories of 1889 and 1890.

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From the address on the battery jar, I would date it as being supplied by the Paul Seiler Electrical Works approx. 1901 to 1906. Alan Rodgers states: "The type of telephone this battery was used for was in use from the late 1880's until the early 1910's. The square shape was used from the late 1890's to 1910's in this type of phone."

My research on Paul Seiler is incomplete, and I consider any dates in this article only approximate until confirmed through further research, hopefully this winter. I can already picture myself sitting in a warm library in San Francisco, while back home in Anchorage the thermometers are registering a cool -30 degrees!