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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.
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Work and Industry: Electricity
Artifact Walls exhibit
Communications
Computers & Business Machines
American Enterprise
Exhibition
American Enterprise
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
ID Number
EM.252599
accession number
49064
catalog number
252599
patent number
174465
maker
Bell, Alexander G.
Related Publication
Sewer, Andy; Allison, David; Liebhold, Peter; Davis, Nancy; Franz, Kathleen G.. American Enterprise: A History of Business in America
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
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Object Name
experimental telephone
telephone
Record ID
nmah_689864
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-1e5f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
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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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3d model of Alexander Graham Bell Experimental Telephone
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