Ericsson receiver
Date: circa 1879
Inventory Number: 8014d
Classification: Telephone
Subject:
Maker: L. M. Ericsson (1877)
Owner: Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
without cord: 16.5 × 6.5 × 6.5 cm (6 1/2 × 2 9/16 × 2 9/16 in.)
Material:
DescriptionAn Ericsson magneto telephone receiver/transmitter made of hard rubber and nickel-plated metal, of the type known as a "butterstamp" style.
Receiver consists of a handle, a straight-sided cylinder of hard rubber, with a metal eye-hook and a pair of terminals or binding posts on one end and a bell-shaped mouthpiece/earpiece on the other end. The terminal end has a rounded molding; the mouthpiece/earpiece end has a series of rounded moldings that expand into a bell shaped receiver/transmitter. A diaphragm covers the end of the bell, which has a molded, dish-shaped earpiece/mouthpiece with a circular center opening. A pair of slotted screw heads and washers is mounted on opposite sides of the handle, near the diaphragm end.
Attached to the binding posts on the end of the handle are two lengths of cloth-covered electrical cord, one green and one green and red patterned, which are bound together in the center then separated at the ends. The end of each cord is capped by a metal housing with bendable metal contact wires or leads.
A paper label is wrapped around the receiver handle.
Signed around the handle, "L. M. ERICSSON & Co STOCKHOLM"; stamped, "E 198."
One of a series of four similar Ericsson receivers, items 8014a-d.
Receiver consists of a handle, a straight-sided cylinder of hard rubber, with a metal eye-hook and a pair of terminals or binding posts on one end and a bell-shaped mouthpiece/earpiece on the other end. The terminal end has a rounded molding; the mouthpiece/earpiece end has a series of rounded moldings that expand into a bell shaped receiver/transmitter. A diaphragm covers the end of the bell, which has a molded, dish-shaped earpiece/mouthpiece with a circular center opening. A pair of slotted screw heads and washers is mounted on opposite sides of the handle, near the diaphragm end.
Attached to the binding posts on the end of the handle are two lengths of cloth-covered electrical cord, one green and one green and red patterned, which are bound together in the center then separated at the ends. The end of each cord is capped by a metal housing with bendable metal contact wires or leads.
A paper label is wrapped around the receiver handle.
Signed around the handle, "L. M. ERICSSON & Co STOCKHOLM"; stamped, "E 198."
One of a series of four similar Ericsson receivers, items 8014a-d.
Signedsigned: L. M. ERICSSON & Co STOCKHOLM
Inscribedstamped: E 198; signed on handle: L. M. ERICSSON & Co STOCKHOLM
FunctionConversion of electric signals into sound for output by telephone
Historical AttributesOld tag: "7< Aug 23 1937 | NKT" [sic] Old tag: "Ericsson Receiver 8014d"
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. 48-49.
