Intercom Used by Edwin Shoemaker at His Floral City Furniture Company Office, circa 1935

01

Artifact Overview

Office intercom systems allowed people to communicate while located in different rooms or different areas of a large building. The term itself is an amalgam of "internal communication." Intercoms can be permanently wired into a building, replacing rudimentary "speaking tubes." The most common form is a desktop "two station system," used between a supervisor and assistant in office environments.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Intercom system

Date Made

circa 1935

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2015.78.32

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of La-Z-Boy, Incorporated.

Material

Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Plastic
Cord (Fiber product)

Dimensions

Height: 8.125 in
Width: 11.625 in
Length: 6 in

Inscriptions

on metal plaque below speaker: FLASH A CALL / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. next to dial to the right of speaker: 3 / 2 / 1 / ALL