wireless coherer
Datecirca 1895
Inventory NumberDW0097
ClassificationCoherer
Subject
Maker
French
?
Cultural Region
Dimensions50.2 × 61.8 × 30.7 cm (19 3/4 × 24 5/16 × 12 1/16 in.)
Material
Accessorieskey, metal rod with sphere at one end
DescriptionA wireless coherer for detecting radio waves. The device consists of a series of components mounted on wooden base on four feet and a wooden backboard mounted upright. The instrument was intended to use a tube of metal filings, missing from this device, as part of its wave detecting capability.
Mounted on the base are, from front to back, an L-shaped base and backboard with pair of wire coils and three binding posts; a brass rod supporting a brass ball, connected to a glass tube on a base; a rectangular tray mounted to the overall instrument base (possibly designed to hold batteries, missing from this instrument); a sensitive relay contained in a cylindrical brass housing with a glass covered display face, mounted on a cylindrical wooden pedestal; an upright with a clockwork mechanism and winding key mounted on the back side and a brass reel with coil of paper tape, and pair of electrical coils and relay mechanism on the front side, which operates a system to mark the paper tape as it passes through a series of guides.
Mounted on the base are, from front to back, an L-shaped base and backboard with pair of wire coils and three binding posts; a brass rod supporting a brass ball, connected to a glass tube on a base; a rectangular tray mounted to the overall instrument base (possibly designed to hold batteries, missing from this instrument); a sensitive relay contained in a cylindrical brass housing with a glass covered display face, mounted on a cylindrical wooden pedestal; an upright with a clockwork mechanism and winding key mounted on the back side and a brass reel with coil of paper tape, and pair of electrical coils and relay mechanism on the front side, which operates a system to mark the paper tape as it passes through a series of guides.
Signedunsigned
FunctionA wireless coherer used in early radio systems for detecting electromagnetic waves.
ProvenanceDavid Wheatland purchased from Roux-Devillas Paris, May 14, 1966 (lot 5/9).
George Washington Pierce
Date: 1900-1944
Accessories: 5 batteries (removed during FAE inventory). 2 spare coherers.
Object number: RS1267
Thomas Alva Edison
Date: circa 1878
Accessories: telephone receiver (8040a)
Object number: 8040b
General Electric Company
Date: late 19th-early 21st Century
Object number: 1997-1-1077
Western Electric Company
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Object number: 1997-1-0593
Lyman Laboratory of Physics, Harvard University
Date: before 1961
Accessories: tensioning mechanism
Object number: 1997-1-0596
French
Date: circa 1880
Accessories: protecting case with glass window
Object number: DW0095