Couch automatic telephone
Datedated 1906
Inventory Number8093a
ClassificationTelephone
Subject
Maker
S. H. Couch Company
1894 - 1985
User
Department of Physics, Harvard University
founded 1884
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionstelephone: 31.1 × 20.4 × 30.9 cm (12 1/4 × 8 1/16 × 12 3/16 in.)
blue board box: 13.7 × 41 × 25.7 cm (5 3/8 × 16 1/8 × 10 1/8 in.)
blue board box: 13.7 × 41 × 25.7 cm (5 3/8 × 16 1/8 × 10 1/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionA Couch automatic dialing, sixteen-line telephone in an oak case. This instrument, (very similar to item no. 1998-1-0098), has been described in Thomas G. Hedberg's "Catalogue: Telephones, Phonographs and Related Instruments in The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments at Harvard University, p.94."
This instrument is missing a metal center section (seen in item no 1998-1-0098) containing push buttons aligned with the labels on the wooden case.
The front-mounted cone shaped mouthpiece and side-mounted butterstamp-style earpiece are hard rubber. Around the mouthpiece base plate is stamped, "S.H. COUCH COMPANY / BOSTON MASS."
On the front of the telephone case, mounted below the mouthpiece, is a cast iron plate with decorative details and the molded label, "Couch / Automatic." Below, missing from this instrument (but seen on instrument 1998-1-0098), should be push buttons aligned with molded metal numbers from 1-16. Arranged in two rows are slots, covered by eisenglas, containing paper labels inscribed with initials, room names or numbers.
The telephone was received from the office of F.W. Pipkin, after a half-century of use in Jefferson Hall at Harvard University. Sixteen in-house lines were connected to various Harvard offices, and are marked (identical to instrument 1998-1-0098):
"1. J.T." (John Trobridge)
"2. Room 35"
"3. B.C.P." (Benjamin O. Pierce)
"4. H.H.D. Ph. 3"
"5. E.H.H." (Edwin Herbert Hall)
"6. Room 41"
"7. W.C.S." (Wallace Clement Sabine)
"8. Optical Room"
"9. T.L." (Theodore Lyman)
"10. Lect. room"
"11. H.W.M."
"12. Room 24, 25"
"13. G.W.P." (George Washington Pierce)
"14. Shop"
"15. Basement"
"16. Fire room"
On the back of the case is an inscription written in pencil, "B12 / Tested by JJC / 12-12-06"
This instrument is nearly identical to the one listed as 8093 on pp. 94 of Thomas G. Hedberg's, unpublished "Catalogue."
This instrument is missing a metal center section (seen in item no 1998-1-0098) containing push buttons aligned with the labels on the wooden case.
The front-mounted cone shaped mouthpiece and side-mounted butterstamp-style earpiece are hard rubber. Around the mouthpiece base plate is stamped, "S.H. COUCH COMPANY / BOSTON MASS."
On the front of the telephone case, mounted below the mouthpiece, is a cast iron plate with decorative details and the molded label, "Couch / Automatic." Below, missing from this instrument (but seen on instrument 1998-1-0098), should be push buttons aligned with molded metal numbers from 1-16. Arranged in two rows are slots, covered by eisenglas, containing paper labels inscribed with initials, room names or numbers.
The telephone was received from the office of F.W. Pipkin, after a half-century of use in Jefferson Hall at Harvard University. Sixteen in-house lines were connected to various Harvard offices, and are marked (identical to instrument 1998-1-0098):
"1. J.T." (John Trobridge)
"2. Room 35"
"3. B.C.P." (Benjamin O. Pierce)
"4. H.H.D. Ph. 3"
"5. E.H.H." (Edwin Herbert Hall)
"6. Room 41"
"7. W.C.S." (Wallace Clement Sabine)
"8. Optical Room"
"9. T.L." (Theodore Lyman)
"10. Lect. room"
"11. H.W.M."
"12. Room 24, 25"
"13. G.W.P." (George Washington Pierce)
"14. Shop"
"15. Basement"
"16. Fire room"
On the back of the case is an inscription written in pencil, "B12 / Tested by JJC / 12-12-06"
This instrument is nearly identical to the one listed as 8093 on pp. 94 of Thomas G. Hedberg's, unpublished "Catalogue."
Signedsigned: S. H. COUCH COMPANY BOSTON MASS.
InscribedStamped on mouthpiece: S.H. COUCH COMPANY / BOSTON MASS;
stamped on front plate: Couch / Automatic;
stamped on front plate: 1. J.T. / 2. Room 35 / 3. B.C.P. / 4. H.H.D. Ph. 3 / 5. E.H.H. / 6. Room 41 / 7. W.C.S. / 8. Optical Room / 9. T.L. / 10. Lect. room / 11. H.W.M. / 12. Room 24, 25 / 13. G.W.P. / 14. Shop / 15. Basement / 16. Fire room;
inscribed on back of case: B12 / Tested by JJC / 12-12-06
Curatorial RemarksOld tag: "From Jefferson 10/10/67"
FunctionConversion of sound into electrical impulses for transmission over a distance
ProvenanceJefferson Laboratory, Physics Department, Harvard University
Historical AttributesThis telephone was used in the Physics Department of Harvard in the early 20th Century. Several prominent figures are listed in the directory, including Theodore Lyman and George Washington Pierce.
S. H. Couch Company
Date: circa 1906
Accessories: Black earpiece, wood wall mounting
Object number: 1998-1-0098
Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
Date: 1947-2002
Object number: 2003-1-0291
International Business Machines Corporation
Date: 1944
Object number: Lib.1964-086b
International Business Machines Corporation
Date: 1944
Object number: Lib.1964-088
Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
Date: 1960-1980
Object number: 2003-1-0309
Wollensak Optical Company
Date: circa 1965
Object number: 2008-1-0055
American Speaking Telephone Company
Date: circa 1878
Object number: 8041
S. H. Couch Company
Date: circa 1905
Accessories: solid telephone receiver
Object number: 8092a
S. H. Couch Company
Date: circa 1905
Accessories: telephone wall unit
Object number: 8092b
Thomas Phillips
Date: 1930-1950
Accessories: black wooden frame
Object number: 1998-1-1190
See also/See also
