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- Western Electric Microphone, Model 47A, Used at WXYZ Radio Station - Western Electric produced the first commercially available condenser microphone. It was widely used in broadcast, cinema, and studio applications until the mid-1930s, when ribbon microphones were introduced. WXYZ-Radio (whose call letters were WGHP until 1930) was a charter member of the CBS Radio Network, producing popular programs like The Lone Ranger and Green Hornet.
- 1928-1935
- Collections - Artifact
Western Electric Microphone, Model 47A, Used at WXYZ Radio Station
Western Electric produced the first commercially available condenser microphone. It was widely used in broadcast, cinema, and studio applications until the mid-1930s, when ribbon microphones were introduced. WXYZ-Radio (whose call letters were WGHP until 1930) was a charter member of the CBS Radio Network, producing popular programs like The Lone Ranger and Green Hornet.
- Stenographic Report of Proceedings of Light's Golden Jubilee at Dearborn, Michigan, October 21, 1929 -
- October 21, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Stenographic Report of Proceedings of Light's Golden Jubilee at Dearborn, Michigan, October 21, 1929
- Finch Facsimile Transmitter, 1938-1940 - From 1938-1940, the <em>Detroit News</em> experimented with a domestic radio-facsimile subscription service. This transmitter converted images and text into electrical impulses, sent over the radio waves--reassembled by receivers in the homes of customers. The idea was revolutionary, however, the process was slow and signal reception was unreliable beyond a mile or two of the transmission tower.
- 1938-1940
- Collections - Artifact
Finch Facsimile Transmitter, 1938-1940
From 1938-1940, the Detroit News experimented with a domestic radio-facsimile subscription service. This transmitter converted images and text into electrical impulses, sent over the radio waves--reassembled by receivers in the homes of customers. The idea was revolutionary, however, the process was slow and signal reception was unreliable beyond a mile or two of the transmission tower.
- Radiola Broadcast Receiver, Type 1375, Used at Tuckerton Wireless Station, 1922-1923 - This radio equipment was used at the German-built Tuckerton Wireless Station in New Jersey. A powerful 820-foot antenna communicated with an identical station in Germany. National security concerns during WWI led to the seizure of Tuckerton by the U.S. government in 1917. It is cited to be the origin of information leaks leading to the RMS <em>Lusitania</em> disaster through U-boat attack.
- 1922-1923
- Collections - Artifact
Radiola Broadcast Receiver, Type 1375, Used at Tuckerton Wireless Station, 1922-1923
This radio equipment was used at the German-built Tuckerton Wireless Station in New Jersey. A powerful 820-foot antenna communicated with an identical station in Germany. National security concerns during WWI led to the seizure of Tuckerton by the U.S. government in 1917. It is cited to be the origin of information leaks leading to the RMS Lusitania disaster through U-boat attack.
- Edmund Berky Playing the Cimbalom during a Ford Radio Station WWI Broadcast, 1924 - Edmund Berky provided musical entertainment for a Ford Motor Company radio program in May 1924. Berky played several selections -- ranging from classical to folk tunes -- on a cimbalom, which is similar to a dulcimer. Musicians play the cimbalom by striking metal strings with spoon-shaped wooden hammers covered with cotton, felt, or leather.
- May 22, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Edmund Berky Playing the Cimbalom during a Ford Radio Station WWI Broadcast, 1924
Edmund Berky provided musical entertainment for a Ford Motor Company radio program in May 1924. Berky played several selections -- ranging from classical to folk tunes -- on a cimbalom, which is similar to a dulcimer. Musicians play the cimbalom by striking metal strings with spoon-shaped wooden hammers covered with cotton, felt, or leather.
- Western Electric Transmitting Tube, Type 270-A, Used at Radio Station WWJ, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1935 - Vacuum tubes appear in older radios, televisions, amplifiers, computers, and other electronic devices. Their function: to amplify or transmit electronic signals. Typical tubes are sealed glass bulbs evacuated of gas, allowing electron flow to be influenced by an interior cathode, plate and grid. Perfected in 1906, the vacuum tube was the genesis of a communications revolution.
- 1936
- Collections - Artifact
Western Electric Transmitting Tube, Type 270-A, Used at Radio Station WWJ, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1935
Vacuum tubes appear in older radios, televisions, amplifiers, computers, and other electronic devices. Their function: to amplify or transmit electronic signals. Typical tubes are sealed glass bulbs evacuated of gas, allowing electron flow to be influenced by an interior cathode, plate and grid. Perfected in 1906, the vacuum tube was the genesis of a communications revolution.
- Tape Recording Featuring Radio Program "Traditions" (WETA), 1977-1982 - The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- 1977-1982
- Collections - Artifact
Tape Recording Featuring Radio Program "Traditions" (WETA), 1977-1982
The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- Tape Recording Featuring Radio Program "Traditions" (WETA), 1977-1982 - The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- 1977-1982
- Collections - Artifact
Tape Recording Featuring Radio Program "Traditions" (WETA), 1977-1982
The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- Tape Recording Featuring Radio Programs "Folk Weekend" (WETA) and "Blues & City Music," 1978 - The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- July 30, 1978
- Collections - Artifact
Tape Recording Featuring Radio Programs "Folk Weekend" (WETA) and "Blues & City Music," 1978
The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- Tape Recording Featuring Radio Programs "Folk Weekend" (WETA) and "Summer Solstice" (WGTB) 1977-1982 - The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.
- 1977-1982
- Collections - Artifact
Tape Recording Featuring Radio Programs "Folk Weekend" (WETA) and "Summer Solstice" (WGTB) 1977-1982
The transformative effects of magnetic tape upon sound, broadcast, and computing history cannot be overstated. In 1930, German companies AEG and BASF revised wire recording technology by using a new material: plastic tape coated with magnetic iron pigment. Its proposed applications were varied, idealistic and practical: recording music and radio, factory automation, data storage, media lending libraries, and many others.