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Section of Submarine Cable Laid Between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan, 1918

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Artifact Overview

In July of 1918 a submarine telephone cable was laid between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, uniting Michigan's Northern and Southern Peninsulas. The 24,000-foot cable was capable of handling 21 simultaneous calls. After a successful installation, the crew onboard the cable-laying ship celebrated with toasts of grape juice due to Prohibition restrictions in Michigan.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Submarine cable

Date Made

1918

Subject Date

09 July 1918

Creator Notes

Made by Western Electric Company, headquarters New York, New York, for use by Michigan State Telephone Company as a submarine cable connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2014.0.17.127

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Copper (Metal)
Felt (Textile)
Glass (Material)
Twine

Dimensions

Height: 2.25 in
Diameter: 3 in

Inscriptions

plaque: Mackinac [sic] City St. Ignace Cable 7 Quad 13 B&S Gauge Length 24783 ft Laid July 9th, 1918
Section of Submarine Cable Laid Between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan, 1918