COMPANIES, INDUSTRIES AND MISCELLANEOUS TRADES EDF / GDF Medal of Merit – XF Type: EDF / GDF merit medal Date: n.d. Metal : gilt bronze Diameter : 55 mm Engraver DROPSY Henry (1885-1969) Weight : 72,03 g. Edge : smooth + triangle BRONZE Puncheon : Triangle BRONZE OBVERSE Obverse legend : .ELECTRICITY. FROM. / .FRANCE. AND. GAS. / .FROM. FRANCE. Obverse description: Satyr kneeling beside a fire, an oil lamp hanging from a stump; legend in exergue. Signed: H. DROPSY. REVERSE Reverse legend : J. BONFANTE. Reverse description: High voltage lines; nameplate in exergue. COMMENTARY The medal was awarded to J. Bonfante At the end of the Second World War, one of the many aims of the nationalisation of EDF was to contribute to the country's industrial recovery and modernisation. This effort resulted in the development of large hydroelectric facilities and coal-fired generation, with a gradual increase in the size of power stations in order to benefit from economies of scale, and the integration of the Ronchamp coalfield and its thermal power station in 1946. Before 1946, France had many electricity companies, which did not supply electricity at a standard voltage. EDF undertook to standardise this voltage between 1956 and 1991. The switch to 220 V resulted from the three-phase 380/220 supply and made it possible to unify the supply voltage (switch to the "blue meter" in the 1960s). In the 1950s and 1960s, after the end of the shortage, the focus shifted to the penetration of electricity in applications such as rotating machinery and efficient processes. Please note: This is a private sale and not a commercial transaction, unfortunately I have to exclude any warranty, liability, as well as return of the item according to today's law! Physical item A finished product • 1900 - 1909