oscillator, Western Electric Type 15-A
Inventory NumberRS0128
ClassificationOscillator
Subject
Maker
Western Electric Company
1869 - 1995
Cultural Region
Dimensions30.3 x 44 x 33.5 cm (11 15/16 x 17 5/16 x 13 3/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA Western Electric-Cruft Lab 15-A oscillator with bakelite knobs in a wooden box with metal hardware.
Signedplate on top of lid: TRADE MARK / Western Electic / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / 15-A OSCILLATOR / PATENTED / 1103688 1384108 / 1201270 1396786 / 1231764 1472470 / 1356763 1507016 / 1377405 1507017 / PAT. PEND. / MADE IN USA
on plate on top panel: 15-A OSCILLATOR / SERIAL NO. 30648
Functionpossible function: www.ieee.org/portal/cms_docs_iportals/iportals/aboutus/history_center/oral_history/pdfs/Wolff030.pdf
I developed a test oscillator to make the measurements at higher frequencies than existing units could produce, and that was the electronics. It turned out that the project of making the oscillator became very useful when I first came to RCA--in fact, that gave me my start at RCA. At the time, the laboratory, which was called the Technical and Test Department, was concerned largely with making tests on loudspeakers to determine if they were suitable for sale. The loudspeakers were made by Westinghouse and the General Electric Company because RCA wasn’t in the business of manufacturing anything at that time, in 1924. So we had the problem of making tests on these loudspeakers. A Western Electric oscillator was used to make these tests; you would set a frequency and then measure the output of the loudspeakers at another frequency, and that was a very laborious process
I developed a test oscillator to make the measurements at higher frequencies than existing units could produce, and that was the electronics. It turned out that the project of making the oscillator became very useful when I first came to RCA--in fact, that gave me my start at RCA. At the time, the laboratory, which was called the Technical and Test Department, was concerned largely with making tests on loudspeakers to determine if they were suitable for sale. The loudspeakers were made by Westinghouse and the General Electric Company because RCA wasn’t in the business of manufacturing anything at that time, in 1924. So we had the problem of making tests on these loudspeakers. A Western Electric oscillator was used to make these tests; you would set a frequency and then measure the output of the loudspeakers at another frequency, and that was a very laborious process
Historical AttributesCruft Lab
Western Electric Company
Date: early 20th Century
Object number: RS0146
Western Electric Company
Accessories: 2 small keys.
Object number: RS0127
