It’s electrifying!
Who invented the circuit-breaker? Thomas Edison patented it in 1879, realising what damage could be caused to electrical equipment in the event of a surge in current created by short-circuit. However, his early electrical installations did not use them, opting instead for fuses — thin wires designed to burn out when the current flowing through them reached a critical level. The first circuit-breaker — with spring-loaded contacts designed to open when the current became too much — was not installed until 1898, at L Street Station by the Boston Electric Light Company.
Vehicle recovery
Has the recovery in car sales been maintained? Registrations by month:
2019 – 2020
February 81,969 – 79,594
March 458,054 – 254,684
April 161,064 – 4,321
May 183,724 – 20,247
June 223,421 – 145,377
July 157,198 – 174,887
August 92,573 – 87,276
Source: SMMT
The franchise affair
The government effectively announced the end of the rail franchising system for good, with the government taking on the financial risk of how many people choose to travel.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in