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Ericsson receiver
Ericsson receiver

Ericsson receiver

Datecirca 1879
Inventory Number8014a
ClassificationTelephone
Subject
    Maker L. M. Ericsson 1877
    User Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University founded 1884
    Cultural Region
      Place of Origin
        Dimensions14 × 5.8 × 5.8 cm (5 1/2 × 2 5/16 × 2 5/16 in.)
        Material
          DescriptionA magneto telephone receiver/transmitter invented by Lars Magnus Ericsson. The device is made of hard rubber and nickel-plated metal, and is known as a "butterstamp" type, due to its shape. Ericsson's magneto receivers became the standard receiver on a number of models of European telephones until the 1890s.

          Receiver consists of a handle, a straight-sided cylinder of hard rubber, with a pair of terminals or binding posts on one end and a bell-shaped mouthpiece/earpiece on the other end. The terminal end has a rounded, nickel-plated molding; the mouthpiece/earpiece end has a series of rounded nickel-plated moldings that expand into a bell shaped receiver/transmitter.

          The diaphragm covering and molded earpiece/mouthpiece are missing from the end of the bell; the magneto assembly is visible inside the bell.

          One of a series of four similar Ericsson receivers, items 8014a-d.
          Signedunsigned
          FunctionConversion of electric signals into sound for output by telephone
          ProvenanceJefferson Laboratory, Physics Department, Harvard University
          Ericsson receiver
          Ericsson receiver
          L. M. Ericsson
          Date: circa 1879
          Accessories: Ivory signaling rattle
          Object number: 8014c
          Ericsson receiver
          Ericsson receiver
          L. M. Ericsson
          Date: circa 1879
          Object number: 8014b
          Ericsson receiver
          Ericsson receiver
          L. M. Ericsson
          Date: circa 1879
          Object number: 8014d
          Bell hard rubber receiver/ transmitter
          Bell hard rubber receiver/ transmitter
          National Bell Telephone Company
          Date: 1879
          Object number: 8010
          Bell hard rubber receiver/ transmitter
          Bell hard rubber receiver/ transmitter
          National Bell Telephone Company
          Date: 1879
          Object number: 8011
          Dolbear condenser receiver
          Dolbear condenser receiver
          Amos E. Dolbear
          Date: 1878-1880
          Object number: 8042a
          Blake's transmitter
          Blake's transmitter
          Francis Blake
          Date: 1881
          Object number: 8031
          Dolbear condenser receiver
          Dolbear condenser receiver
          Amos E. Dolbear
          Date: 1878-1880
          Object number: 8042b
          Bell speaking telephone receiver/ transmitter
          Bell speaking telephone receiver/ transmitter
          Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University
          Date: circa 1877
          Object number: 8006
          Bell speaking telephone receiver/ transmitter
          Bell speaking telephone receiver/ transmitter
          Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University
          Date: circa 1877
          Object number: 8007
          Couch house telephone wall unit
          Couch house telephone wall unit
          S. H. Couch Company
          Date: circa 1905
          Accessories: solid telephone receiver
          Object number: 8092a
          Maiche receiver
          Maiche receiver
          L. Lenczewski et Cie.
          Date: circa 1884
          Object number: 8034