Inventors seeking to develop energy-efficient lamps could not simply start with a blank piece of paper. They needed to work within the capabilities of existing lighting and power systems. Sometimes even small features had an influence, like the use of the screw-in base and socket.
What became the standard screw-in lamp base and socket was introduced by Thomas Edison in 1883, and it hasn't changed since. To this day often referred to as an "Edison base," it's formally known as the medium-screw base. While there are other base sizes (and types), the medium-screw base is the most common, especially in residential light fixtures.
Since sockets for this base are so widespread, designers of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) like this 1993 Panasonic "Light Capsule" needed to ensure their products would fit that size. This model EFG16LE lamp is an integral unit--it's all in one piece, including the screw-in base. Other modular lamps used specially designed plug-in bases. The plug-in base has several advantages over the medium-screw base. One of the most important is that if the light fixture takes a plug-in base, one can't use a cheap regular lamp in place of the more expensive CFL.
But few homes had fixtures with plug-in bases. And lamp makers realized that few homeowners would replace their fixtures just to use the new lamps. So inventors needed to design their lamps with the screw-base, or develop an adaptor.
Lamp characteristics: Medium-screw base with plastic skirt containing an electronic ballast and starter. Fluorescent tube assembly containing two electrodes, mercury, and an internal phosphor coating. White, G-shaped glass envelope covers the tube assembly. This lamp came in its original package. Rated at 16 watts, it's intended as a replacement for 60 watt incandescent lamps.
This Crown model CTA-4000 answering machine from the late 1960s used a non-standard cassette for recording messages. The telephone sat on top of the unit and was connected via a pickup and telephone cradle plug. A small microphone is mounted in a slot on the right side. The duration of message was 60 seconds. An advertisement from 1968 lists the retail price as $98.50 while one year it sold for $49.95.
The Japanese emphasized electronic technology when rebuilding their manufacturing capability after World War II. The need to replace factories and equipment destroyed during the war gave them the opportunity to take advantage of the latest innovations and enter new markets. The invention of the transistor at Bell Labs in 1947 proved to be a significant opportunity for Japanese electronics companies like Minatronics.
This model TE-155 answering machine does not electrically connect to the telephone, A desk telephone was placed on the deck of the unit and the lever is slipped under the handset. When the phone rang, the lever lifted the hand-set and the recording began. This indirect method of recording was required due to AT&T’s disapproval of telephone answering machines. Since the device did not connect to the company’s lines, the user avoided sanction.
The reel-to-reel format did not disappear overnight. This AIWA portable tape recorder dates from the mid-1960s, a time in which both the cassette tape and the 8-track cartridge formats were gaining popularity. Reducing the size of the tape required moving the recording tracks closer together. That in turn required more advanced recording heads that could read and write the narrower tracks, as well as physically-stronger tape.
This telegraph register was made in Paris by Charles Noe, 11 Rue Laromiguiere, and used in Japan. The paper tape travels along the side of the brass housing while the drive mechanism is set within. The electromagnets are set between the housing and the electrical connecting posts. The used wound the spring-powered drive mechanism with a key. Telegraph registers are electrically-activated printers that receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The pulses energize the register’s electromagnets which move a lever-arm holding a pen or stylus. A clockwork mechanism pulls a strip of paper across the pen or stylus, recording the message. Short pulses draw or emboss a dot, slightly longer pulses a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers.
In 1971, PhoneMate introduced the Model 400 answering machine that held twenty messages on a reel-to-reel tape. An earphone allowed the user to listen privately to incoming messages. Bell Telephone resisted the introduction of answering machines for many years, fearful that people would make fewer calls if they thought they might be recorded.
A cellular telephone with charger, spare battery, and owners manual. Phone: Mitsubishi type MT-396F0R6B, serial number 2013. Charger: Mitsubishi type FZ-707A, serial number 000481, date code 1986-05. Battery: type FZ-712A / P-07E-6U02. This is a hand-held cell phone from the mid 1980s, marking a transition from earlier “bag phones” to smaller hand-held devices. Bag phones required separate batteries and transceiver systems, usually housed in a satchel carried over-the-shoulder by the user. This model 60X unit, though large by later standards, was considered an advancement due to its significantly smaller and lighter size.
This unit was made by the Japanese firm Mitsubishi, and represents another line of imported Japanese electronics from a time when those imports were creating national concern about their impact on US companies and competitiveness. The visual design of this model 60X recalls WWII handy-talkies, a device that is in the direct technical lineage of cell phones.
The donor is the original owner and reported: “At the time [mid 1980s], I was a General Contractor and could see the value of being able to be in contact with crews and customers at any time. The phone cost $3000. I felt it paid for itself almost immediately since I had a project closing that needed my immediate attention. They were able to contact me while I was on a job site. Without getting in touch with me, the closing would have had to be delayed.”
Tungsten decorative lamp (Japan), about 1930. Nickel or brass(?) miniature-screw base with glass insulator. Tungsten filament. Tipless milk-glass envelope molded into shape of a colonial-style lantern covered with snow, with green and brown painted trim.
Reference: Phillip V. Snyder, The Christmas Tree Book, (1977): 122-124.
Tungsten decorative lamp (Japan), about 1930. Nickel or brass(?) miniature-screw base with glass insulator. C-2 tungsten filament with crimp connectors, Dumet leads. Tipless FE-shape envelope with metal (tin?) cover in the shape of a 5-point star (note concave depression on top of envelope). Cover is in 2 pieces (clipped together) and has a blue plastic cone on each of the 5 points. A red fiber insulator is clipped to the bottom half of the cover and prevents the cover from contacting the base-shell. The neutral lead passes thru the insulator and is then soldered onto the shell.
