"buzzerphone" wire telegraph
Date1916-1925
Inventory NumberRS0150
ClassificationTelegraph
Subject
Maker
Western Electric Company
1869 - 1995
Manufacturer
Le Matériel Téléphonique
1911 - 1950s
User
Cruft Laboratory, Harvard University
founded 1914
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Place of Use
Dimensions18.5 x 27 x 15 cm (7 5/16 x 10 5/8 x 5 7/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionRectangular wooden box with rounded corners. Inside silver top panel with black capped switches, 2 electrical connectors and telegraph key. Leather cord with head receiver attached. Top panel hinged, diagram inside lid.
Signedplate on top panel: WESTERN ELECTRIC
plate on top panel: LE MATERIÉL TÉLÉPHONIQUE / SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME / Ancienne Maison G. ABOILARD & Cie / 46, AVENUE DE BRETEUIL - PARIS
Curatorial RemarksIdentical to RS0151.
FunctionThe buzzerphone is a wire telegraph developed during World War I designed to avoid message interception by the enemy.
The wire transmitter / receiver (one side of the line may use ground) uses very low direct current, about 60 microamps, avoiding interception by either induction (for being DC) or current leakage (for using very small current).
At the receiving unit, a "howler", an actual telephone receiver and transmitter, modulates the signal so it can be heard in the receiving operator's earpiece. The howler in the sending operator's unit provides feedback (sidetone) to him.
The buzzerphone could also be used as a telephone, albeit less securely.
A good description of the advantages of this instrument is found in the Report of the Chief Signal Officer (to the U.S. Secretary of War), 1919, available on Google Books here.
The wire transmitter / receiver (one side of the line may use ground) uses very low direct current, about 60 microamps, avoiding interception by either induction (for being DC) or current leakage (for using very small current).
At the receiving unit, a "howler", an actual telephone receiver and transmitter, modulates the signal so it can be heard in the receiving operator's earpiece. The howler in the sending operator's unit provides feedback (sidetone) to him.
The buzzerphone could also be used as a telephone, albeit less securely.
A good description of the advantages of this instrument is found in the Report of the Chief Signal Officer (to the U.S. Secretary of War), 1919, available on Google Books here.
ProvenanceAccording to a tag, it was used at the Cruft Laboratory, Harvard University.
Western Electric Manufacturing Company
Date: 1869-1881
Object number: 1997-1-0300
American
Date: circa 1901
Accessories: watchcase receiver
Object number: 1990-1-0001
Western Electric Company
Date: 1925-1930
Accessories: chestpiece and earphones (2)
Object number: RS0790
Armour Research Foundation
Date: 1942-1945
Accessories: microphone with separate stand and cord; LS-12X microphone line transformer
Object number: WJ0315
Sir Charles Wheatstone
Date: circa 1860
Accessories: part of a set that includes the transmitter (DW0887a)
Object number: DW0887b
McElroy Manufacturing Company
Date: ca. 1940-1955
Object number: RS1166
See also/See also
