musical telephone receiver of the type designed by Philipp Reis
Date: circa 1863
Inventory Number: 8000b
Classification: Telephone
Subject:
Maker: Rudolph Koenig (1832 - 1901)
Owner: Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
6.4 × 28 × 9.1 cm (2 1/2 × 11 × 3 9/16 in.)
box: 14 × 29.8 × 26 cm (5 1/2 × 11 3/4 × 10 1/4 in.)
DescriptionTelephone receiver, part of a device for the first electrical reproduction of sound at a distance. It was invented by Philip Reis, a professor of Natural Philosophy at the Boy's Academy of Friedrichsdorf, Germany, and produced by Rudolph Koenig from 1862 through the 1870s.
The receiver consists of a rectangular box with a hinged cover, indented 3.7 cm left and right. The cover has a pair of circular openings, and the base has one circular opening. The base has wooden supports for the iron receiver rod on both sides of the cover. A horizontally positioned iron rod is surrounded by a spiral of insulated copper wire. One end of the wire is designed to connect to the transmitter, while the other connects with the earth, thereby completing the circuit. The hinged cover fits over the coil, and when closed, is designed to strengthen the vibrations inside the box.
Upper right of hinged cover stamped with Harvard number, "7-48."
The repeater has an accompanying transmitter, item 8000a.
The receiver consists of a rectangular box with a hinged cover, indented 3.7 cm left and right. The cover has a pair of circular openings, and the base has one circular opening. The base has wooden supports for the iron receiver rod on both sides of the cover. A horizontally positioned iron rod is surrounded by a spiral of insulated copper wire. One end of the wire is designed to connect to the transmitter, while the other connects with the earth, thereby completing the circuit. The hinged cover fits over the coil, and when closed, is designed to strengthen the vibrations inside the box.
Upper right of hinged cover stamped with Harvard number, "7-48."
The repeater has an accompanying transmitter, item 8000a.
Signedunsigned (see 8000a)
Inscribedupper right of hinged cover stamped with Harvard number: 7-48
Functiontelephone receiver for conversion of electrical impulses created by transmitter into sound for output
Curatorial RemarksOld tag: "Reis's Telephone 1861 Receiver and Sound Box".
Housed in a blue board tray with 8000b. SMS 9/27/2000
Sounding board, Spruce; case, Mahogany; magnet spool, Boxwood; bridges, Maple.
Housed in a blue board tray with 8000b. SMS 9/27/2000
Sounding board, Spruce; case, Mahogany; magnet spool, Boxwood; bridges, Maple.
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. 13-15.
See also:
William Henry Preece and Julius Maier, The Telephone (London: Whittaker & Co., 1889), pp.94-97.
