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- Edison No. 1 Mimeograph, 1887 - Thomas Edison received a patent in 1876 for "Autographic Printing," covering the electric pen and flatbed press; a patent for "Autographic Stencils" followed in 1880. The mimeograph was invented by Albert Blake Dick in 1887, who licensed and refined Edison's patents. This low-cost, stencil-based printing technology was popular until displaced by photocopying machines and offset printing in the 1960s.
- 1887
- Collections - Artifact
Edison No. 1 Mimeograph, 1887
Thomas Edison received a patent in 1876 for "Autographic Printing," covering the electric pen and flatbed press; a patent for "Autographic Stencils" followed in 1880. The mimeograph was invented by Albert Blake Dick in 1887, who licensed and refined Edison's patents. This low-cost, stencil-based printing technology was popular until displaced by photocopying machines and offset printing in the 1960s.
- Heinz "Pickled Products" Salesman Kit, circa 1918 - With many varieties of pickles and condiments that the company sold, a Heinz salesperson relied on a kit with fold-out cards to present the products to potential customers. Whether selling to store owners or peddling to residents in their homes, the kit allowed salespeople to show a variety of products without physically carrying them.
- circa 1918
- Collections - Artifact
Heinz "Pickled Products" Salesman Kit, circa 1918
With many varieties of pickles and condiments that the company sold, a Heinz salesperson relied on a kit with fold-out cards to present the products to potential customers. Whether selling to store owners or peddling to residents in their homes, the kit allowed salespeople to show a variety of products without physically carrying them.
- Magnetic Tape Reel, circa 1953 -
- circa 1953
- Collections - Artifact
Magnetic Tape Reel, circa 1953
- Sony Trinicon Video Camera, Used by Ford Motor Company, 1983 -
- 1983
- Collections - Artifact
Sony Trinicon Video Camera, Used by Ford Motor Company, 1983
- Dictaphone Cylinder Carrying Case, 1930-1940 - Dictaphones and Ediphones were sound recording devices used for efficient oral dictation in business settings. When Edison invented the phonograph, one proposed use was "dictation without the aid of stenographers." Its tinfoil playback medium lacked quality, however. Alexander Graham Bell's Graphophone (later, Dictaphone) improved the phonograph by using wax cylinders for superior playback; cylinders were also used in the competing Ediphone.
- 1930-1940
- Collections - Artifact
Dictaphone Cylinder Carrying Case, 1930-1940
Dictaphones and Ediphones were sound recording devices used for efficient oral dictation in business settings. When Edison invented the phonograph, one proposed use was "dictation without the aid of stenographers." Its tinfoil playback medium lacked quality, however. Alexander Graham Bell's Graphophone (later, Dictaphone) improved the phonograph by using wax cylinders for superior playback; cylinders were also used in the competing Ediphone.
- Crestwood Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder, 1951 - In 1930, a new material--plastic tape coated with magnetic pigment--opened worlds of possibility for sound recording and data storage. Professionals used open-reel magnetic tape recorders to pre-record radio shows; consumer models were used for home recording and music playback. The format was sonically superior to compact cassettes introduced in 1963, but shifted to niche use by the 1980s.
- 1951
- Collections - Artifact
Crestwood Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorder, 1951
In 1930, a new material--plastic tape coated with magnetic pigment--opened worlds of possibility for sound recording and data storage. Professionals used open-reel magnetic tape recorders to pre-record radio shows; consumer models were used for home recording and music playback. The format was sonically superior to compact cassettes introduced in 1963, but shifted to niche use by the 1980s.
- General Electric Foot-Candle Meter, circa 1925 -
- circa 1925
- Collections - Artifact
General Electric Foot-Candle Meter, circa 1925
- Kodak Vest Pocket Folding Camera with Autographic Feature, Model B, 1926-1933 -
- 1926-1933
- Collections - Artifact
Kodak Vest Pocket Folding Camera with Autographic Feature, Model B, 1926-1933
- Case with Pipe -
- Collections - Artifact
Case with Pipe
- Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter, 1940-1950 -
- 1940-1950
- Collections - Artifact
Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter, 1940-1950