WE model 26A horn with 594A field coil driver loudspeaker
Date: circa 1936
Inventory Number: HA0012
Classification: Speaker
Subject:
Maker: Western Electric Company (1881 - 1995)
User: Leo L. Beranek (born 1914)
User: Electro-Acoustic Laboratory, Harvard University (1940 - 1947)
User: National Defense Research Committe (1940 - 1941)
Place of Origin:United States
Dimensions:
99.5 x 94 x 59.2 cm, 130 lb. (39 3/16 x 37 x 23 5/16 in., 59 kg)
Description:
Flaired rectangular horn with driver.
In Collection(s)
Signedpainted in back: Western Electric / 2A RECEIVER ATTACH
plate on back: Western Electric / USA / 594 A LOUD SPEAKER / TELEPHONE / PATENTS 1707544 1707545 1734624 1930915 / PAT. PENDING / SERIAL NO. 338
painted on horn: Western Electric / U.S.A. / 26A HORN
plate on back: Western Electric / USA / 594 A LOUD SPEAKER / TELEPHONE / PATENTS 1707544 1707545 1734624 1930915 / PAT. PENDING / SERIAL NO. 338
painted on horn: Western Electric / U.S.A. / 26A HORN
Inscribedstamped in white on horn in various places: NDRC / 658
stamped in white on horn and various sites: AN. RES.______LLB
stamped in red on transducer: 57 W
stamped in yellow on transducer: ACCOUSTICS
painted on side: PROPERTY OF / Electrical Research Products Inc.
stamped in white on horn and various sites: AN. RES.______LLB
stamped in red on transducer: 57 W
stamped in yellow on transducer: ACCOUSTICS
painted on side: PROPERTY OF / Electrical Research Products Inc.
Historical AttributesAccording to David P. Wheatland, this huge loudspeaker was used in 1936 at the Tercentenary of Harvard University. It was the finest public address system of its day.
The loudspeaker is marked in several places "NDRC" and "An. Res.___LLB." This indicates that it was used by Leo L. Beranek in his Electro-Acoustic Laboratory during his classified research for the US Navy on mitigating sound in combat situations. The equipment was marked and the project was put on Harvard's books as "Anonymous Research by Leo L. Beranek" to keep it a secret. NDRC stands for National Defense Research Committe.
The loudspeaker is marked in several places "NDRC" and "An. Res.___LLB." This indicates that it was used by Leo L. Beranek in his Electro-Acoustic Laboratory during his classified research for the US Navy on mitigating sound in combat situations. The equipment was marked and the project was put on Harvard's books as "Anonymous Research by Leo L. Beranek" to keep it a secret. NDRC stands for National Defense Research Committe.
ProvenanceLeo L. Beranek, Electro-Acoustic Laboratory, 1940.