wireless coherer
Date: circa 1895
Inventory Number: DW0097
Classification: Coherer
Subject:
Maker: French ?
Cultural Region:
Dimensions:
50.2 × 61.8 × 30.7 cm (19 3/4 × 24 5/16 × 12 1/16 in.)
Accessories: key, metal rod with sphere at one end
DescriptionA wireless coherer for detecting radio waves. The device consists of a series of components mounted on wooden base on four feet and a wooden backboard mounted upright. The instrument was intended to use a tube of metal filings, missing from this device, as part of its wave detecting capability.
Mounted on the base are, from front to back, an L-shaped base and backboard with pair of wire coils and three binding posts; a brass rod supporting a brass ball, connected to a glass tube on a base; a rectangular tray mounted to the overall instrument base (possibly designed to hold batteries, missing from this instrument); a sensitive relay contained in a cylindrical brass housing with a glass covered display face, mounted on a cylindrical wooden pedestal; an upright with a clockwork mechanism and winding key mounted on the back side and a brass reel with coil of paper tape, and pair of electrical coils and relay mechanism on the front side, which operates a system to mark the paper tape as it passes through a series of guides.
Mounted on the base are, from front to back, an L-shaped base and backboard with pair of wire coils and three binding posts; a brass rod supporting a brass ball, connected to a glass tube on a base; a rectangular tray mounted to the overall instrument base (possibly designed to hold batteries, missing from this instrument); a sensitive relay contained in a cylindrical brass housing with a glass covered display face, mounted on a cylindrical wooden pedestal; an upright with a clockwork mechanism and winding key mounted on the back side and a brass reel with coil of paper tape, and pair of electrical coils and relay mechanism on the front side, which operates a system to mark the paper tape as it passes through a series of guides.
Signedunsigned
FunctionA wireless coherer used in early radio systems for detecting electromagnetic waves.
ProvenanceAcquired in Paris, 1966.