Prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

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Prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, made by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, 1912-1920. Comprises: selenium cells nos. 4 and 5 (in wooden boxes); two experimental selenium cells (one in wooden box, one in cardboard box); two galvanometers (in one box); spare galvanometer coil and mirror, extra suspension spring (in cardboard box inside galvanometer box); seven grid slides, seventeen wire-wound resistors; four lenses.

This magnifier was invented by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, a British engineer who worked in a cable station in the Pacific ocean, on the Pacific Telegraph Cable. The purpose of the magnifier was to cut out the expensive and arduous task of re-sending messages that passed through the cable station on their way to other destinations. This was required because the signals lost clarity over distances of hundreds of miles, meaning that the only way for the messages to reach their destination was for operators to resend the messages manually when they passed from one length of cable to another. The magnifier boosted the signal strength and clarity. The regenerated signal was then suitable for perforating a new tape, or could be transmitted directly. These components are parts of the development prototypes made by Cox, largely in his spare time while working at various cable stations. The production version was in widespread use for over a decade.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1976-269
Materials:
wood (unidentified), plastic (unidentified), metal (unknown), copper (alloy) and wax
type:
amplifier
credit:
Donated by P. K. Cox

Parts

Selenium cell from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Selenium cell from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Selenium cell No 5 from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, possibly made by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, 1910-1920.

More

This is part of a magnifier invented by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, a British engineer who worked in a cable station in the Pacific ocean, on the Pacific Telegraph Cable. The purpose of the magnifier was to cut out the expensive and arduous task of re-sending messages that passed through the cable station on their way to other destinations. This was required because the signals lost clarity over distances of hundreds of miles, meaning that the only way for the messages to reach their destination was for operators to resend the messages manually when they passed from one length of cable to another. The magnifier boosted the signal strength and clarity. The regenerated signal was then suitable for perforating a new tape, or could be transmitted directly. These components are parts of the development prototypes made by Cox, largely in his spare time while working at various cable stations. The production version was in widespread use for over a decade.

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 180 mm x 191 mm, 4 kg
Materials:
copper (alloy) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt1
type:
battery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Galvanometer from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Galvanometer from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Galvanometer from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, possibly made by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, 1910-1920.

More

This is part of a magnifier was invented by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, a British engineer who worked in a cable station in the Pacific ocean, on the Pacific Telegraph Cable. The purpose of the magnifier was to cut out the expensive and arduous task of re-sending messages that passed through the cable station on their way to other destinations. This was required because the signals lost clarity over distances of hundreds of miles, meaning that the only way for the messages to reach their destination was for operators to resend the messages manually when they passed from one length of cable to another. The magnifier boosted the signal strength and clarity. The regenerated signal was then suitable for perforating a new tape, or could be transmitted directly. These components are parts of the development prototypes made by Cox, largely in his spare time while working at various cable stations. The production version was in widespread use for over a decade.

Measurements:
overall: 205 mm x 115 mm x 120 mm, .839 kg
Materials:
wax , glass , plastic (unidentified) , metal (unknown) and copper (alloy)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt2
type:
galvanometer
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Grid slide from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1919-1920

Grid slide from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1919-1920

Grid slide from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, possibly made by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, 1910-1920.

More

This is part of a magnifier invented by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, a British engineer who worked in a cable station in the Pacific ocean, on the Pacific Telegraph Cable. The purpose of the magnifier was to cut out the expensive and arduous task of re-sending messages that passed through the cable station on their way to other destinations. This was required because the signals lost clarity over distances of hundreds of miles, meaning that the only way for the messages to reach their destination was for operators to resend the messages manually when they passed from one length of cable to another. The magnifier boosted the signal strength and clarity. The regenerated signal was then suitable for perforating a new tape, or could be transmitted directly. These components are parts of the development prototypes made by Cox, largely in his spare time while working at various cable stations. The production version was in widespread use for over a decade.

Measurements:
overall: 205 mm x 118 mm x 10 mm, .17 kg
Materials:
wood (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt3
type:
telegraph peripheral
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Lens from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Lens from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment, 1910-1920

Lens from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment used in experiments carried out by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, made by Clement and Gilmer, Paris, France, 1910-1920.

More

This is part of a magnifier invented by Kenwrick Cecil Cox, a British engineer who worked in a cable station in the Pacific ocean, on the Pacific Telegraph Cable. The purpose of the magnifier was to cut out the expensive and arduous task of re-sending messages that passed through the cable station on their way to other destinations. This was required because the signals lost clarity over distances of hundreds of miles, meaning that the only way for the messages to reach their destination was for operators to resend the messages manually when they passed from one length of cable to another. The magnifier boosted the signal strength and clarity. The regenerated signal was then suitable for perforating a new tape, or could be transmitted directly. These components are parts of the development prototypes made by Cox, largely in his spare time while working at various cable stations. The production version was in widespread use for over a decade.

Measurements:
overall: 65 mm 86 mm, .508 kg
Materials:
copper (alloy) , metal (unknown) , paint and glass
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt4
type:
lens
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Box for Selenium cell No 5

Box for Selenium cell No 5

Box for Selenium cell No 5

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt5
type:
box - container
Selenium cell No 4

Selenium cell No 4

Selenium cell No 4

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt6
type:
selenium cell
Box for selenium cell No 4

Box for selenium cell No 4

Box for selenium cell No 4

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt7
type:
box - container
Spare galvanometer

Spare galvanometer

Spare galvanometer

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt8
type:
galvanometers
Box for galvonometers

Box for galvonometers

Box for galvonometers

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt9
type:
box - container
Lid for box containing spare galvonometer

Lid for box containing spare galvonometer

Lid for box containing spare galvonometer

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt10
type:
lids
Wooden grid slide, with rectangular hole partly covered by metal grill attachment

Wooden grid slide, with rectangular hole partly covered by metal grill attachment

Wooden grid slide, with rectangular hole partly covered by metal grill attachment

Materials:
wood (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt11
type:
grid slide
Metal grill attachment from grid slide

Metal grill attachment from grid slide

Metal grill attachment from grid slide, with one small rectangular hole to attach the slide to wood

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt13
type:
attachment
Metal grill attachment from grid slide

Metal grill attachment from grid slide

Metal grill attachment from grid slide, with thick metal plate

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt14
type:
attachment
Metal grill attachment from grid slide

Metal grill attachment from grid slide

Metal grill attachment from grid slide, with 4 small round holes to attach the slide to wood

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt15
type:
attachment
Wooden slide, with black ink staining

Wooden slide, with black ink staining

Wooden slide, with black ink staining

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt17
type:
slide
Wooden slide, with black ink staining

Wooden slide, with black ink staining

Wooden slide, with black ink staining. Wrapped in paper, with 'grid slides' handwritten on it.

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt18
type:
slide
Large lens

Large lens

Large lens, with crack in rear glass portion. Collar with holes to attach.

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt19
type:
lenses
Medium sized lens

Medium sized lens

Medium sized lens, concave, with small holes around edge to attach

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt20
type:
lenses
Small lens

Small lens

Small lens, within larger brass encasement. Wrapped in purple paper,

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt21
type:
lenses
Cardboard box containing 17 wire-round resistors

Cardboard box containing 17 wire-round resistors

Cardboard box containing 17 wire-round resistors, some wrapped in brown tissue. Box reads 'John J Griffin & Sons Ltd., Laboratory furnishers, Kingsway, London, W.O. (corner of Kemble street)' Handwritten text: '1 Doz Unmounted Selenium Cells'.

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt22
type:
resistors
One of two extra suspension springs

One of two extra suspension springs

One of two extra suspension springs, slightly larger than the other

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt23
type:
spring
One of two extra suspension springs

One of two extra suspension springs

One of two extra suspension springs, slightly smaller than the other

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt24
type:
spring
Pink cardboard box for extra suspension springs

Pink cardboard box for extra suspension springs

Pink cardboard box for extra suspension springs. 'Richard Hudnut, three flowers compact rouge' in gold lettering.

Materials:
cardboard
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt25
type:
box
Teardrop shaped metal attachments for extra suspension rings

Teardrop shaped metal attachments for extra suspension rings

Teardrop shaped metal attachments for extra suspension rings, wrapped in brown paper with 'extra suspension springs' written on the paper.

Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt26
type:
attachments
Spare galvonometer coil with small

Spare galvonometer coil with small

Spare galvonometer coil with small, circular mirror attached

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt27
type:
coil
Cardboard box for spare galvonometer coil

Cardboard box for spare galvonometer coil

Cardboard box for spare galvonometer coil, with cotton wool in base and loose cardboard parts that previously comprised the lid.

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt28
type:
box - container
One of two experimental selenium cells

One of two experimental selenium cells

One of two experimental selenium cells

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt29
type:
selenium cell
Wooden box for one experimental selenium cell

Wooden box for one experimental selenium cell

Wooden box for one experimental selenium cell

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt30
type:
box
One of two experimental selenium cells, mounted on wood

One of two experimental selenium cells, mounted on wood

One of two experimental selenium cells, mounted on wood

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt31
type:
selenium cell
Wooden box used to contain prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

Wooden box used to contain prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

Wooden box used to contain prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1976-269 Pt32
type:
box
Unidentified loose part from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

Unidentified loose part from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

Unidentified loose part from prototype Cox selenium-cell magnifier equipment

Object Number:
1976-269 Pt33
type:
part