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- Ediphone Shaver, circa 1926 - Dictaphones and Ediphones were sound recording devices largely used for oral dictation in business settings. In this scenario, wax cylinder recordings were passed to a secretary, who listened to the recording with a playback-only transcriber and then typed up notes. A shaving machine, such as this one, scraped the previously inscribed layer away allowing a wax cylinder to be reused over 100 times.
- circa 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Ediphone Shaver, circa 1926
Dictaphones and Ediphones were sound recording devices largely used for oral dictation in business settings. In this scenario, wax cylinder recordings were passed to a secretary, who listened to the recording with a playback-only transcriber and then typed up notes. A shaving machine, such as this one, scraped the previously inscribed layer away allowing a wax cylinder to be reused over 100 times.
- Photolithograph, "The Voice of the Liberty Bell," 1926 -
- 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Photolithograph, "The Voice of the Liberty Bell," 1926
- Replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer - This copy of the 1903 Wright Flyer faithfully replicates the original aircraft. On December 17, 2003, the replica attempted to duplicate the Wright brothers' first flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, exactly one hundred years after that historic feat. The attempt was foiled by bad weather, though the replica flew successfully in earlier tests.
- 1903
- Collections - Artifact
Replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer
This copy of the 1903 Wright Flyer faithfully replicates the original aircraft. On December 17, 2003, the replica attempted to duplicate the Wright brothers' first flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, exactly one hundred years after that historic feat. The attempt was foiled by bad weather, though the replica flew successfully in earlier tests.
- Sesqui-Centennial Exposition Souvenir Liberty Bell Pencil, 1926 - The Sesquicentennial International Exposition celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Though more than six million attendees visited Philadelphia in 1926, the fair was not profitable and disappointed organizers following the city's successful Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Still, many fairgoers commemorated the experience, returning home with souvenirs like this pencil depicting Philadelphia's Liberty Bell.
- 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Sesqui-Centennial Exposition Souvenir Liberty Bell Pencil, 1926
The Sesquicentennial International Exposition celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Though more than six million attendees visited Philadelphia in 1926, the fair was not profitable and disappointed organizers following the city's successful Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Still, many fairgoers commemorated the experience, returning home with souvenirs like this pencil depicting Philadelphia's Liberty Bell.
- Larkin Company Trade Catalog, "A Practical Plan of Saving: The Larkin Idea of Factory-To-Family Dealing," circa 1906 - John D. Larkin established a soap manufacturing company in 1875. He hired his brother-in-law, Elbert Hubbard, as a salesman. Hubbard developed "The Larkin Idea," a plan that sold goods directly to consumers through mail-order catalogs and offered incentivizing giveaways. It was a success. By the early 1900s, Larkin's catalogs contained pages of products and even more pages of premiums from which customers could choose.
- circa 1906
- Collections - Artifact
Larkin Company Trade Catalog, "A Practical Plan of Saving: The Larkin Idea of Factory-To-Family Dealing," circa 1906
John D. Larkin established a soap manufacturing company in 1875. He hired his brother-in-law, Elbert Hubbard, as a salesman. Hubbard developed "The Larkin Idea," a plan that sold goods directly to consumers through mail-order catalogs and offered incentivizing giveaways. It was a success. By the early 1900s, Larkin's catalogs contained pages of products and even more pages of premiums from which customers could choose.
- Crowds at the Sesqui-Centennial Air Races, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 1926 - Air races provided pilots and manufacturers with an opportunity to test new technologies and show them off to enthusiastic audiences. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the annual National Air Races were the premier competition in the United States. The 1926 event took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- 04 September 1926-11 September 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Crowds at the Sesqui-Centennial Air Races, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 1926
Air races provided pilots and manufacturers with an opportunity to test new technologies and show them off to enthusiastic audiences. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the annual National Air Races were the premier competition in the United States. The 1926 event took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- George Washington Commemorative Cup from Centennial Exhibition, circa 1876 - The first official World's Fair held in the United States celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Around ten million people visited Philadelphia during the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876. Many returned home with mementos of the exposition, such as this cup depicting the nation's first president among patriotic imagery.
- circa 1876
- Collections - Artifact
George Washington Commemorative Cup from Centennial Exhibition, circa 1876
The first official World's Fair held in the United States celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Around ten million people visited Philadelphia during the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876. Many returned home with mementos of the exposition, such as this cup depicting the nation's first president among patriotic imagery.
- Commemorative Spoon Holder, "Declaration of Independence: 100 Years Ago," 1876 - Glassmakers from around the world, including forty-seven American firms, mounted exhibitions at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Gillinder and Sons of Philadelphia constructed an entire working factory. Visitors could watch Gillinder craftsmen blow, press, engrave, and cut glass souvenirs celebrating the 100th anniversary of American independence. This example features an icon of national freedom, the Liberty Bell.
- 1876
- Collections - Artifact
Commemorative Spoon Holder, "Declaration of Independence: 100 Years Ago," 1876
Glassmakers from around the world, including forty-seven American firms, mounted exhibitions at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Gillinder and Sons of Philadelphia constructed an entire working factory. Visitors could watch Gillinder craftsmen blow, press, engrave, and cut glass souvenirs celebrating the 100th anniversary of American independence. This example features an icon of national freedom, the Liberty Bell.
- World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition Souvenir Medal, 1885 -
- 1885
- Collections - Artifact
World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition Souvenir Medal, 1885
- Commemorative Medal from the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876 - Philadelphia's Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Around ten million people attended the fair and many returned home with mementos of their visit. Many of these souvenirs, like this commemorative medal, contain images of the fair's massive exhibitions buildings.
- 1876
- Collections - Artifact
Commemorative Medal from the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876
Philadelphia's Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Around ten million people attended the fair and many returned home with mementos of their visit. Many of these souvenirs, like this commemorative medal, contain images of the fair's massive exhibitions buildings.