GR type 760-A sound analyzer
Date1946
Inventory NumberWJ0285
ClassificationSound Analyzer
Subject
Manufacturer
General Radio Company
1915-present
Manufacturer
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
founded 1888
User
Stanley Smith Stevens
1906 - 1973
User
Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory, Harvard University
1940 - 1962
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions28 x 42.5 x 24 cm (11 x 16 3/4 x 9 7/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionThis apparatus is self-contained inside a box, within which were stored batteries (missing), four vacuum tubes (in), and the rest of the wires and electronic parts. Switches, buttons and dials are used to adjust the readings generated by the apparatus. The decibel meter was made by Weston Electric for GR. A cover with four silver tightening clamps protects the instrument. A handle is attached to the cover for carrying purposes. Inside the cover is an instruction sheet for the basic operations of the apparatus.
In Collection(s)
Signedon instrument: Sound Analyzer / Type 760-A Serial No. 311 / General Radio Co. / Cambridge, Mass. U.S.A.
[similar signature on top of cover]
Inscribedon instrument: 76-B-576 / Tr-HU-2/7/61
on instrument, plaque: P.A.L. Serial No. 33
on instrument, stenciled: ANON. RESEARCH / S.S. STEVENS [also on the inside and top of cover]
plaque on cover: This instrument is licensed, under Patents of / the American Telephone and Telegraph Company / solely for utilization in research, / investigations, measurement, testing, / instruction and development work / in pure and applied science.
Historical AttributesBetween 1940 and 1945, Harvard physicists and psychologists worked side-by-side to bring man and machine into a harmonious union. Communication equipment studied and engineered by the Electro-Acoustic Laboratory was sent to the Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory for speech articulation tests with human subjects in high-noise or low-pressure environments. Leo Beranek's and Stanley Stevens's teams developed improved microphones and earphones, and the armed forces rushed these into production.
This instrument was designed to work with the type 759-A sound level meter, although it could be used with any other microphone and amplifier having similar characteristics. It not only measured the amplitude of sounds, but also its frequency range.
Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
Date: 1947-2002
Object number: 2003-1-0291
Victor Comptometer Corporation
Date: circa 1970
Accessories: vinyl cover
Object number: 1996-1-0381
General Radio Company
Date: 1960-1970
Accessories: operation manual
Object number: 1999-1-0055
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
Object number: RS0712
Wang Laboratories, Inc.
Date: 1970
Accessories: cloth instrument cover lined with tissue paper; black power cord; accompanied by central electronic unit (2001-1-003b); two page hand-written note from Peter L. Smith, Research associate, Harvard College Observatory, regarding the donation of the calculator, dated 10 December, 2001 (original and copy in instrument file); photocopy of operation instructions from the bottom panel of calculator unit (in instrument file); printed document on the history of the Wang 360SE by Rick Bensene (in instrument file); printed document on the history of the Want 360SE from Geocity (in instrument file); printed document on the Orbiting Solar Observatories (in instrument file)
Object number: 2001-1-0033a
Andrew Pritchard
Date: 1835-1840
Accessories: objectives (4); oculars (6); lieberkühns (4); stage forceps; bull's eye condenser on stand; spring stage; extra mechanical stage; polarizer; cup diaphragms and holders; substage fork mount; live box; glass troughs (2); concave glass; fish tube holder; case; 2 keys. See also slide micrometers (2) (1088b,c)
Object number: 1088a
Hans W. Egli
Date: circa 1915
Object number: 1997-1-0252
Technical Measurement Corporation
Object number: RS1083
Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation
Date: 1946
Object number: 1997-1-0209
