Other Unique Equipment
The museum exhibits amateur radio equipment, a commercial AM transmitter, a
early motion picture projector and numerous household appliances. All are on
display.
Amateur Radio Equipment
Many of the volunteers of The Museum of Communications are also amateur radio
operators. The museum contains many different transmitters and receivers on
display. There are also examples of commercial amateur gear as well at the
museum.
Commercial AM Transmitter
This exhibit is a 1000 watt #6B AM broadcast transmitter that was in commercial
operation in Everett, Washington. The transmitter was manufactured in 1928 by
Western Electric. It was powered by two - 2,000 volt generators for a total of
4,000 volts. If you look closely at the right side of the base of the
transmitter the water cooling pipes that keep the transmitter at the correct
operating temperature are visible.
Movie Projector
This mid 1920's vintage movie projector is one of many attempts to synchronize
sound with motion pictures. The phonograph would play the sound portion of the
program while the visual portion was playing. This solution was not ideal since
a splice in the film would change the registration of the picture with the
sound. Later technology placed the sound track on the film next to the image so
that sounds and pictures were always in registration.
In 1926 Western Electric created Electrical Research Products Incorporated
(ERPI) as a subsidiary to develop non-telephone inventions of the Bell System
research, and in particular talking machines.
Sewing Machine
This sewing machine is one of many electrical appliances manufactured by
Western Electric at the museum. It is interesting to note that the motor was
mounted on the front of the machine and not in the rear of it.
Washing Machine
Western Electric distributed this washing machine in 1924. As an advertisement
of the time said, "Here is a Clothes Washer that combines pleasing appearance
with the stoutly-built mechanism needed to get clothes really clean." This
model might seem less attractive in your 21
st
century home.
Wire Recorder
The earliest means of recording sounds was the phonograph. The wire recorder
came later, unlike today's modern recorders that use mylar tape with a magnetic
coating, wire recorders use a thin iron wire instead. As the wire passed
through the recording head it was magnetized, storing the signals from a
microphone or other input device. Wire recorders were more suitable for one
time recording and the wire can be used more than once allowing a cost savings.
Home Page
This exhibit is a 1000 watt #6B AM broadcast transmitter that was in commercial
operation in Everett, Washington. The transmitter was manufactured in 1928 by
Western Electric. It was powered by two - 2,000 volt generators for a total of
4,000 volts. If you look closely at the right side of the base of the
transmitter the water cooling pipes that keep the transmitter at the correct
operating temperature are visible.
This mid 1920's vintage movie projector is one of many attempts to synchronize
sound with motion pictures. The phonograph would play the sound portion of the
program while the visual portion was playing. This solution was not ideal since
a splice in the film would change the registration of the picture with the
sound. Later technology placed the sound track on the film next to the image so
that sounds and pictures were always in registration.
In 1926 Western Electric created Electrical Research Products Incorporated
(ERPI) as a subsidiary to develop non-telephone inventions of the Bell System
research, and in particular talking machines.
This sewing machine is one of many electrical appliances manufactured by
Western Electric at the museum. It is interesting to note that the motor was
mounted on the front of the machine and not in the rear of it.
Western Electric distributed this washing machine in 1924. As an advertisement
of the time said, "Here is a Clothes Washer that combines pleasing appearance
with the stoutly-built mechanism needed to get clothes really clean." This
model might seem less attractive in your 21
st
century home.
The earliest means of recording sounds was the phonograph. The wire recorder
came later, unlike today's modern recorders that use mylar tape with a magnetic
coating, wire recorders use a thin iron wire instead. As the wire passed
through the recording head it was magnetized, storing the signals from a
microphone or other input device. Wire recorders were more suitable for one
time recording and the wire can be used more than once allowing a cost savings.