telephone receiver "POUR LA FRANCE" (mouthpiece?)
Date: circa 1880
Inventory Number: 8026
Classification: Telephone
Subject:
Maker: Telephone Bell (c. 1880)
Owner: Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
without cord: 7 × 7 × 3.9 cm (2 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 1 9/16 in.)
Description:
A telephone receiver made by Telephone Bell in France. Receiver consists of a short cylinder of turned mahogany, with a cone-shaped ear-piece inset into the front and a flat back. The ear piece has a circular opening at the base of the cone, through which the telephone diaphragm may be seen.
A length of electrical cord extends from an opening in the side of the cylinder. The cord is formed of two blue, cloth-covered insulated electrical wires, twisted together, separated at the end with each terminating in a metal electrical pin plug.
The flat back of the receiver is marked, "POUR LA FRANCE P 349 TELEPH(ONE) BELL BREV.S.G.D.G.," and has a black disk inset into the center of the surface.
A length of electrical cord extends from an opening in the side of the cylinder. The cord is formed of two blue, cloth-covered insulated electrical wires, twisted together, separated at the end with each terminating in a metal electrical pin plug.
The flat back of the receiver is marked, "POUR LA FRANCE P 349 TELEPH(ONE) BELL BREV.S.G.D.G.," and has a black disk inset into the center of the surface.
Signedmarked on back: TELEPH(ONE) BELL BREV.S.G.D.G.
InscribedMarked on back: POUR LA FRANCE / P 349 / TELEPH(ONE) BELL / BREV.S.G.D.G.
FunctionConversion of sound into electrical signal for input to telephone
ProvenanceJefferson Laboratory, Physics Department, Harvard University