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Alexander Graham Bell Experimental Telephone

Object Details

Description
Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated several experimental telephones at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. This unit features a single electro-magnet and could be used both as transmitter and receiver. Bell approached the problem of transmitting speech differently from other telephone inventors like Elisha Gray and Thomas Edison. They were mostly experienced telegraphers trying to make a better telegraph. Bell's study of hearing and speech more strongly influenced his work.
date made
1876
maker
Bell, Alexander G.
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Work and Industry: Electricity
Communications
Computers & Business Machines
American Enterprise
Artifact Walls exhibit
Exhibition
American Enterprise
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Related Publication
Sewer, Andy; Allison, David; Liebhold, Peter; Davis, Nancy; Franz, Kathleen G.. American Enterprise: A History of Business in America
Data Source
National Museum of American History
ID Number
EM.252599
accession number
49064
catalog number
252599
patent number
174465
Object Name
experimental telephone
telephone
Physical Description
wood (base material)
brass (posts material)
tin (mouthpiece material)
brass (brackets material)
Measurements
overall: 6 1/2 in x 5 in x 11 in; 16.51 cm x 12.7 cm x 27.94 cm
Record ID
nmah_689864
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-1e5f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Object Groups

  • Battery

    Electricity and Magnetism

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These files consist of 3D scans of historical objects in the collections of the Smithsonian and may be downloaded by you only for non-commercial, educational, and personal uses subject to this disclaimer (https://3d.si.edu/disclaimer) and in accordance with the Terms of Use (https://3d.si.edu/termsofuse).
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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