Communications

WANN Microphone

Tools of communication have transformed American society time and again over the past two centuries. The Museum has preserved many instruments of these changes, from printing presses to personal digital assistants.

The collections include hundreds of artifacts from the printing trade and related fields, including papermaking equipment, wood and metal type collections, bookbinding tools, and typesetting machines. Benjamin Franklin is said to have used one of the printing presses in the collection in 1726.

More than 7,000 objects chart the evolution of electronic communications, including the original telegraph of Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell's early telephones. Radios, televisions, tape recorders, and the tools of the computer age are part of the collections, along with wireless phones and a satellite tracking system.

Topic: Electricity

Glass Block Insulator in Wooden Post

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1847
ID Number
EM.180133.01
catalog number
180133.01
accession number
22820

House telegraph insulator

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
maker
House, Royal E.
ID Number
EM.181014
catalog number
181014
accession number
25096

Pilgrim hat threadless insulator

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1850
ID Number
EM.221140
catalog number
221140
accession number
41460

Weston model 30 moving coil relay

Telegraph relays amplify an electrical signal in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver.
Description
Telegraph relays amplify an electrical signal in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver. The pulses fade in strength as they travel through the wire, limiting the distance a message can be sent. Relays remedy that problem by detecting a weak signal and automatically re-transmitting that signal down the line using a local power source.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Weston Electrical Instrument Co.
Maker
Western Union Corporation
ID Number
EM.333365
accession number
294351
collector/donor number
13-80
catalog number
333365

Lynchburg Glass Insulator

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1924
ca 1924
maker
Lynchburg Glass Corporation
ID Number
EM.330923
catalog number
330923
accession number
299122

Glass Block Insulator in Wooden Support

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1847
ID Number
EM.180133.02
catalog number
180133.02
accession number
22820

Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, 1989

This “Conger” model battery-powered signal lantern was manufactured by the Conger Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1989.
Description
This “Conger” model battery-powered signal lantern was manufactured by the Conger Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1989. The Conger Lantern Company originally operated in Portland, Oregon until it was purchased by the Star Headlight & Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1982. The lantern was incredibly popular due to its lightweight, rust-proof stainless steel body and rubber coated handle. The lantern has sockets for two bulbs; the bare bulb with reflector below the lantern body was used for signaling while the smaller adjacent bulb makes a focused beam that could be used as a flashlight. This particular lantern was witnessed to be the last Conger from the Star Company's assembly line, as the company changed to producing their line of plastic lanterns in 1989.
Before the advent of portable two way radios, train crews communicated via hand signals during the day, and lantern signals during periods of low visibility or at night. Hand lantern signals are still used in situations when radio intercommunication is impractical. Specific motions of the lantern convey precise instructions such as “Clear to Depart;" "Move the train Forward;" "Move the train Backward;" "Slow Down;" "Slow Down Further;" or "Stop and Remain Stopped."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989-06-22
ca. 1989
ca. 1954 - 1989
1989
maker
Star Headlight & Lantern Company
ID Number
1989.0610.01
accession number
1989.0610
catalog number
1989.0610.01

Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, 1950s-70s

This battery-powered signal lantern was manufactured by the Star Headlight & Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York beginning in the 1950s.
Description
This battery-powered signal lantern was manufactured by the Star Headlight & Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York beginning in the 1950s. The lantern has a metal body with a fixed rubber-coated handle, allowing for better grip during signaling as well as a insulating the handle from electricity. The lantern has sockets for two bulbs; one equipped with a reflector used for signaling and a smaller adjacent socket that makes a focused beam that could be used as a flashlight.
Before the advent of portable two way radios, train crews communicated via hand signals during the day, and lantern signals during periods of low visibility or at night. Hand lantern signals are still used in situations when radio intercommunication is impractical. Specific motions of the lantern convey precise instructions such as “Clear to Depart;" "Move the train Forward;" "Move the train Backward;" "Slow Down;" "Slow Down Further;" or "Stop and Remain Stopped."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950-1959
associated institution
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
maker
Star Headlight & Lantern Company
ID Number
1985.0552.03
accession number
1985.0552
catalog number
1985.0552.03
85.0552.03

Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, 1989

This Starlight 222 model lantern was manufactured by the Star Headlight & Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1989. The Star Company replaced their metal lanterns with acrylic plastic lanterns like this one beginning in 1989.
Description
This Starlight 222 model lantern was manufactured by the Star Headlight & Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1989. The Star Company replaced their metal lanterns with acrylic plastic lanterns like this one beginning in 1989. This side of this lantern is stamped with the text “PRODUCED IN OUR 100th Year 1889-1989” surrounding the Star Company logo. The lantern has sockets for two bulbs; the bare bulb with reflector below the lantern body was used for signaling while the smaller adjacent bulb makes a focused beam that could be used as a flashlight. The Starlight model was available in several colors with a choice of railroad logos on the side.
Before the advent of portable two way radios, train crews communicated via hand signals during the day, and lantern signals during periods of low visibility or at night. Hand lantern signals are still used in situations when radio intercommunication is impractical. Specific motions of the lantern convey precise instructions such as “Clear to Depart;" "Move the train Forward;" "Move the train Backward;" "Slow Down;" "Slow Down Further;" or "Stop and Remain Stopped."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1989
maker
Star Headlight & Lantern Company
ID Number
1989.0610.02
accession number
1989.0610
catalog number
1989.0610.02

Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, ca. 1950s

This railroad hand-signal battery-powered lantern was manufactured by the Economy Electric Lantern Company during the middle of the 20th century. This lantern was used by an employee of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad.
Description
This railroad hand-signal battery-powered lantern was manufactured by the Economy Electric Lantern Company during the middle of the 20th century. This lantern was used by an employee of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. The lantern has a stainless steel body to avoid rust, and a rubber coated handle allowing for better grip during signaling.
Before the advent of portable two way radios, train crews communicated via hand signals during the day, and lantern signals during periods of low visibility or at night. Specific motions of the lantern convey precise instructions such as “Clear to Depart;" "Move the train Forward;" "Move the train Backward;" "Slow Down;" "Slow Down Further;" or "Stop and Remain Stopped."
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Economy Lantern Company
ID Number
TR.335323
catalog number
335323
accession number
321812

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