Reis telephone, 1863.

Made:
1863 in Frankfurt am Main
designer:
Philipp Reis
Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. Two objects Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects Receiver, part of Reis telephone made in 1863 Receiver, part of Reis telephone made in 1863 Receiver, part of Reis telephone made in 1863 Transmitter, part of Reis telephone made in 1863 Transmitter, part of Reis telephone made in 1863 Transmitter, part of Reis telephone made in 1863

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Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. Two objects
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Reis telephone made in 1863, with glass dome cover. One objects
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Receiver, part of Reis telephone made in 1863
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Receiver, part of Reis telephone made in 1863
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Receiver, part of Reis telephone made in 1863
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Transmitter, part of Reis telephone made in 1863
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Transmitter, part of Reis telephone made in 1863
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Transmitter, part of Reis telephone made in 1863
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Reis telephone consisting of a transmitter, receiver and a glass dome, made by J W Albert, Frankfurt, 1863.

This object represents the final form of the several designs of 'telephon' apparatus designed by Philipp Reis (1834-1874) between 1860 and 1863, and made for him by the precision engineers J W Albert. The transmitter used a membrane with a loose microphonic contact arranged between platinum points in the centre - the sound waves caused the membrane to vibrate, and this movement varied the electrical current that passed through the metal contacts. These were of the 'make and break' type and could not transmit true 'undulatory' current except when out of adjustment. Reports from the time prove that Reis succeeded in transmitting fragments of speech and musical tones, but the apparatus he designed was too inefficient for practical use without further development, which Reis didn't undertake.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1923-273
Materials:
wood (unidentified), copper (metal), steel (metal), brass (copper, zinc alloy) and glass
Measurements:
overall (receiver): 5 mm x 260 mm x 100 mm, .24 kg
overall (transmitter): 10 mm x 190 mm x 135 mm, .5 kg
type:
telephones
credit:
Donated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers

Parts