Gower-Bell carbon microphone
Date1881
Inventory Number8033
ClassificationTelephone
Subject
Maker
Frederick Gower
c. 1880
Maker
Société de Construction de Matériel Téléphonique
1889 - 1911
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions11.5 × 20.3 × 18.5 cm (4 1/2 × 8 × 7 5/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA telephone transmitter made by Gower in partnership with the European Bell interests. The device uses a carbon-pencil design, invented by Dr. David E. Hughs in 1878.
The device consists of a square wooden case with hinged top, atop a low four-footed wood stand with moulded edges. Mounted to the underside of the inside top of the case are a square diaphragm with fifteen (15) thin carbon rods or "pencils" mounted in a spoke and wheel arrangement on the diaphragm. The arrangement is a nearly complete circle, lacking one segment around the perimeter. The wheel and spoke segments connect at their points to round carbon disks, secured by brass attachments. A pair of coiled wires, covered in green insulation, connects the center point and one of the perimeter points to a pair of brass brads. The brads are connected by a pair of coiled wires, covered in brown insulation, to the interior of the device.
The mouthpiece for the device is on the top of the case, on the outside.
Seven metal binding posts are mounted on the exterior of the wooden case: three on the left and four on the right side, along with a call button.
Inscribed on oval plate on front, "ABOILARD BREVETÉ S.G.D.G. No 2"; left terminals marked, "S / T. / T."; right terminals marked, "L / CC / C / TZ"
The device consists of a square wooden case with hinged top, atop a low four-footed wood stand with moulded edges. Mounted to the underside of the inside top of the case are a square diaphragm with fifteen (15) thin carbon rods or "pencils" mounted in a spoke and wheel arrangement on the diaphragm. The arrangement is a nearly complete circle, lacking one segment around the perimeter. The wheel and spoke segments connect at their points to round carbon disks, secured by brass attachments. A pair of coiled wires, covered in green insulation, connects the center point and one of the perimeter points to a pair of brass brads. The brads are connected by a pair of coiled wires, covered in brown insulation, to the interior of the device.
The mouthpiece for the device is on the top of the case, on the outside.
Seven metal binding posts are mounted on the exterior of the wooden case: three on the left and four on the right side, along with a call button.
Inscribed on oval plate on front, "ABOILARD BREVETÉ S.G.D.G. No 2"; left terminals marked, "S / T. / T."; right terminals marked, "L / CC / C / TZ"
Signedunsigned
Inscribedon oval plate on front: ABOILARD BREVETÉ S.G.D.G. No 2;
left terminals marked: S / T. / T.;
right terminals marked: L / CC / C / TZ
Curatorial RemarksOld tag: "Gower-Bell Carbon Microphone 8033"
FunctionConversion of sound into electrical signals for transmission over a distance
ProvenanceJefferson Laboratory, Physics Department, Harvard University
Sylvania
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Accessories: brown cardboard box, with handwritten note, "345 on 35"
Object number: RS0369
Sylvania
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Object number: RS0368
General Electric Company
Date: circa 1960
Object number: 1998-1-0001
Rudolph Koenig
Date: circa 1863
Accessories: repeater (item 8000b)
Object number: 8000a
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0528