Fire Alarm Register

THF185800 / Fire Alarm Register
01

Artifact Overview

Beginning in the mid-19th century, cities installed telegraph fire alarm systems. When a fire broke out, a person could activate the nearest fire alarm box to send a signal directly to the fire department. The signal was received and recorded by a register like this one. It converted the signal's electrical pulses into punches on the paper tape.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Register

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2017.0.34.1581

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Metal
Glass (Material)
Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Gold (Color)
Silver (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 9 in
Width: 8 in
Length: 4.5 in

Inscriptions

on plate: THE GAMEWELL CO. / PATENTS / NO. 633,982. OCT. 3, 1899. / NO. 691,587. JAN. 21, 1902.