Bell's harmonic telegraph receiver, 1925-1958

Made:
1925-1958 in Albany
inventor:
Alexander Graham Bell
maker:
Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc.
Front: Replica of Bell's harmonic telegraph transmitter Replica of Bell's harmonic telegraph receiver, unknown maker

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Front: Replica of Bell's harmonic telegraph transmitter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Replica of Bell's harmonic telegraph receiver, unknown maker
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Replica of Bell's 1875 harmonic telegraph receiver, made by Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc, Albany, New York, United States, 1925-1958.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) thought of an idea for sending a number of telegraph messages over a single pair of wires at the same time, and began experimenting in 1872. This replica represents a later experiment using vibrating reeds and electromagnets (rather than tuning forks). He used a number of reeds at the sending end, each tuned to a different frequency. By having the same number of reeds tuned to the same frequencies at the receiving end, he hoped he could make each respond only to the transmitting reed of the same frequency. Although this experiment was unsuccessful, it led to further experiments, and to his development of the telephone.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1958-32
Materials:
wood (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 75 mm x 130 mm x 75 mm, .33kg
type:
telegraph and telephone
credit:
Donated by Bell Telehpone Laboratories Inc