Siemens and Halske receiver/transmitter
Date: 1858-1877
Inventory Number: 8001
Classification: Telephone
Dimensions:19.2 × 11.4 × 11.4 cm (7 9/16 × 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 in.)
DescriptionA telephone receiver/transmitter, made by Siemens, Halske & Co., of turned wood. It is a shape known as a "butterstamp" type. The cylinder has a turned base flaring out toward the bottom; at the other end of the cylindrical handle is a conical mouthpiece constructed of a stack of disk-shaped elements, with binding post and thumbscrew positioned below it. There are two parallel strips of metal running the length of the handle, one on each side. The device is missing a brass ring for the opening in the mouthpiece/earpiece.
Inside the wooden cylinder is a horseshoe element in contact with a bar magnet wrapped at its terminal end with insulated wire, allowing induction via the oscillations of a metallic diaphragm.
Stamped on one side of handle, "SIEMENS & HALSKE No 1154"; stamped on other side of handle, "D. R. PATENT"; "1583U 203E"; terminals marked "Z" and reverse "K."
This is one the oldest, foreign, post-Bell instruments in the collection, and is a simple, standard electromagnetic induction telephone. This instrument is designed to be switched from ear to mouth to hear or speak; within a year the idea of using separate mouth and earpieces was adopted. The device was produced in the shops of Werner Von Siemens, who was one of the principal electrical scientists of late 19th century Germany.
Signedstamped on one side of handle: SIEMENS & HALSKE No 1154
Inscribedstamped on one side of handle: SIEMENS & HALSKE No 1154;
stamped on other side of handle: D. R. PATENT; 1583U 203E;
terminals marked: Z; K
FunctionConversion of sound into electrical signals for transmission over a distance and conversion of signals into sound for output
ProvenanceJefferson Laboratory, Physics Department, Harvard University
Published ReferencesThis instrument is described in:
Thomas G. Hedberg, "Catalogue: Telephones, Phonographs and Related Instruments in The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments at Harvard University." William Andrewes, Project Director (unpublished manuscript, President and Fellows of Harvard College and Thomas G. Hedberg, 1989. Fifth Draft), pp. 25-26.