BellingcatA lone photograph claims to show the first instalment of a rooftop solar panel. Bellingcat researcher @FP explores whether this historic photo was potentially altered and the invention attributed to the wrong man. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/08/16/untangling-the-mystery-of-the-worlds-first-rooftop-solar-panel/?utm_source=mstdn
A Google search for the world’s first rooftop solar panel yields an image of four panels installed on a New York City rooftop in 1884 by Charles Fritts. This image and accompanying description were published in Smithsonian Magazine in April 2019.
At the time of publication, the Smithsonian article, a sponsored piece by the US Patent and Trademark Office, has been cited by Wikipedia, 16 journal articles and numerous other blogs and websites.
In November 2021, Low-Tech magazine first raised the idea that this photo may be misleading. https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2021/10/how-to-build-a-low-tech-solar-panel.html
How to Build a Low-tech Solar Panel?
George Cove, a forgotten solar power pioneer, may have built a highly efficient photovoltaic panel 40 years before Bell Labs engineers invented silicon cells. If proven to work, his design could lead to less complex and more sustainable solar panels. Above: George Cove stands next to his third solar array. Source: "Generating electricity by the sun's rays", Popular Electricity, Volume 2, nr. 12, April 1910, pp.793. More efficient, less sustainable Ever since Bell Labs presented the first practical solar PV panel in the 1950s, technological development has focused on reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of solar cells. According to these standards, researchers have made a lot of progress. The efficiency of solar panels increased from less than 5% in...
Low-Tech magazine’s article included several photos of a similar-looking device. One of the photos appears identical to Smithsonian’s photo, but features a man standing behind the panels. It’s claimed that the one with the man is the original photo.
The photo originates from a September 1909 issue of Modern Electrics, in a section titled ‘Harnessing Sunlight’. A digitised copy can be found here: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Modern-Electrics/Modern-Electrics-1909-09.pdf
A search on Archive.org using the keyword ‘Sun Electric Generator’ reveals that several other US magazines from 1901-11 reported on the invention, crediting the same George Cove.
When comparing the two photos, Foeke found that the angles of the buildings and objects appear exactly the same. The shadows are no different and there is no change in the open and closed windows in the background building, nor in the positions of the awnings over them.
Smithsonian’s photo is slightly smaller, has a higher resolution and a glare visible on the solar panel. It is also damaged, with tears and blotches visible in the corners. This suggests that it's a ‘photo of a photo’ which was then published online.
Despite this, there are no signs of photo manipulation. A flag visible in the background of the Modern Electric photo appears to be in a different position on the Smithsonian’s photo suggesting that the two photos were taken by the same photographer with a short time delay.
Using addresses found in archived newspapers and historic street maps, Foeke confirmed that the photo was taken on Cove’s rooftop. Pictures of his laboratory building match the solar panel photos surroundings
John Perlin who provided the Smithsonian with their photo responded to Bellingcat’s research claiming that an “antiquarian” had “verified the accuracy” of his photo. He claimed “On the back typescript had clearly indicated that the panels were put up by Charles Fritts in 1884”. He also suggested that Cove could have taken over Fritts laboratory after his stroke in 1890.
Articles from the time seem to suggest Fritt’s laboratory was situated at 42 Nassau street, which is three blocks away from Cove’s laboratory at 118 Maiden Lane. They are also separated by time, with reports of Cove’s invention being published in 1909 while Fritts was active in the 1880s and 1890s.
A technical assessment of who contributed more to solar power is beyond the scope of our article. However, the tale of Cove’s photograph is instructive about the risks, and ease, of misattributing historic images. More investigations on historic material can be found here: https://www.bellingcat.com/tag/history/
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