ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Electrical Nostalgia What was this DC generator for?

The nameplates are as follows:

DC Generator



Compensator



AC Motor (need a better pic)



Here are the gauges (custodian's real motive is he said he heard you can get $150 for these on EBay)





School has a large stage and auditorium, never had an elevator until 20 years ago, and I don't know what they would have used batteries for in the school, unless it was common practice to charge a bunch and have them for backup emergency lights in case of power failure (which probably happened more in the 20's and 30's than it does now).

I heard there is an old original blueprint (the actual blue background with white lines for the drawings type of blueprint from which came the term, I assume). Maybe I can get my hands on it.

Here is the cut off load feeder, a 1" or 1 1/4" flex connector