Systeme Ader telephone console
Date: circa 1880
Inventory Number: 8022a
Classification: Telephone
Subject:
Maker: Breguet FT (1870 - 1881)
Maker: Louis-Clément Breguet (1804 - 1883)
Maker: Société Générale des Téléphones (1880 - 1889)
Owner: Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Associate Name: Clement Ader (1841 - 1926)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
20.3 × 26 × 19.2 cm (8 × 10 1/4 × 7 9/16 in.)
box: 23.5 × 36.8 × 21.3 cm (9 1/4 × 14 1/2 × 8 3/8 in.)
DescriptionA telephone system console, made by Louis-Clément Breguet for the Ader company. The case has a cherry wood frame with steel and brass pins and connectors. The flat back panel has four brass binding posts, two of which are for connection with a battery and the other two are designed to connect to an alarm bell, which could be positioned anywhere nearby.
A wooden shelf is attached to the back panel and angled from the front. The top of the shelf has an opening covered by a thin, rectangular spruce wood panel. The panel rests on a thin rubber ring which allows it to vibrate. Mounted beneath the panel, which acts as a diaphragm, is a series of carbon rods; the combination forms a wood-block microphone. The case has a switch hook on each side, with a provision for two receivers.
Ader applied for a French patent for his system in 1880, and a for a United States patent in 1883.
A brass plate on the top of the shelf is inscribed, "brass plate above diaphragm: SOCIÉTE GLE DES TELEPHONES SYSTÈME ADER Bté S.G.D.G. 5501 [maker's mark]"; a brass plate on the front edge of the shelf is inscribed, "BREGUET FI."
A wooden shelf is attached to the back panel and angled from the front. The top of the shelf has an opening covered by a thin, rectangular spruce wood panel. The panel rests on a thin rubber ring which allows it to vibrate. Mounted beneath the panel, which acts as a diaphragm, is a series of carbon rods; the combination forms a wood-block microphone. The case has a switch hook on each side, with a provision for two receivers.
Ader applied for a French patent for his system in 1880, and a for a United States patent in 1883.
A brass plate on the top of the shelf is inscribed, "brass plate above diaphragm: SOCIÉTE GLE DES TELEPHONES SYSTÈME ADER Bté S.G.D.G. 5501 [maker's mark]"; a brass plate on the front edge of the shelf is inscribed, "BREGUET FI."
Signedon front edge of shelf: BREGUET FI;
brass plate above diaphragm: SOCIÉTE GLE DES TELEPHONES SYSTÈME ADER Bté S.G.D.G. 5501 [maker's mark]
brass plate above diaphragm: SOCIÉTE GLE DES TELEPHONES SYSTÈME ADER Bté S.G.D.G. 5501 [maker's mark]
Inscribedfar left top terminal: L;
center left: T;
lower terminals both: Tel;
upper corns. diaph. stamped: 7-47;
left terms. under shelf: PT;
right pair: PS
center left: T;
lower terminals both: Tel;
upper corns. diaph. stamped: 7-47;
left terms. under shelf: PT;
right pair: PS
FunctionConversion of sound into electrical signals for transmission over a distance and providing such signals to a receiver for reconversion
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. 64-66.
See also:
George B. Prescott, Bell's Electric Speaking Telephone: Its Invention, Construction, Application, Modification and History. (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1884). pp. 221, 223.
