Acoustics and Communications Collection

Welcome to the acoustics and communications collection at Aberystwyth University Physics Museum. This collection of artefacts dates back to the early 20th century with an assortment of First World War era telegraphs and wireless radio receivers.

This collection is split into three sections:

Audio
Phonographs
Telegraphy

AUDIO

2 Air Music Box

By A. W. Gamage, Ltd. London. 1920

Made in Switzerland, this music box plays two songs and is in a wooden case with an image of 4 cats painted on the lid.

Test Records

By The Gramophone Company Ltd, London. 1937

This book of 5 records was used to demonstrate the properties of sound. There are 4 constant frequency records and one demonstration record. Album No. 252.

Dove’s Acoustic Siren

By Tisley and Spiller. London. 1870

This siren uses a bellows to pass air through holes in two disks, producing sound and causing the disks to rotate. The dials recorded the number of times the disks rotated, allowing the user to determine the frequency of the note produced.

Sound Sensitive Flame

Circa 1900

This gas flame resonated with certain frequencies of sound to produce a very high pitched note. This piece was used alongside a rotating-mirror oscilloscope.

Schaefer Continuous Resonance Apparatus

By Zimmerman, Leipzig. 1900

Four of these resonators are complete in case and cover a wide range of musical notes.

Tuning Fork On Resonance Box

Striking the fork causes the soundwaves to resonate inside the open cavity for a long, sustained note.

PHONOGRAPHS

Edison GEM Model B Phonograph‌

By Thomas A. Edison, 1905

A device for the recording and playing of records. Sound waveforms are either etched, engraved, impressed or incised onto the surface of a wax cylinder to record sound. To play the record, the cylinder is rotated as a stylus traces the waveform and reproduces the sound. This phonograph played 2-minute cylinders.

Wax Cylinder for Ediphone

By Thomas A. Edison, 1925

A wax cylinder for use on a phonograph system for the playing or recording of sound.

Phonograph

By EWC. 1905

This phonograph plays 3” cylinders but the reproducer is missing.

From B. Davies collection.

Edison Standard Model C Phonograph

By Thomas A. Edison. 1907

Playing 2 minute cylinders, this piece is missing its original reproducer. Serial No. 634338.

TELEGRAPHY

Crystal Wireless Telegraphy Receiver Model Td No.304

By Gambrell Bros. Ltd, 1916

Used to receive limited distance information wirelessly during the years of the First World War. Crystal receivers are passive receivers and produce weak sound so must be listened to with sensitive earphones.

Crystal and Cats Whisker from Domestic Crystal Receiver

By E. M. Job, 1928

Semi-conducting crystals were used as an inexpensive part of a wireless telegraphy receiver. The cat’s whisker is a thin electronic wire that lightly touches the crystal in the receiver in order to make a rectifier.

Mullard PM 2 Triode Valve

An early one-cell triode valve used in wireless telegraph receivers.

One Wave Wireless Receiver

By George Blythe of Meifod for Mrs S. Williams, Meifod, 1926

This receiver, build for Mrs S. Williams of Central Stores Meifod uses a Cossor ‘Wuncel’ audio output triode.

Crystal W/T Receiver, Mark III, No.937

By Robt. W. Paul, 1916

Hertz Coherer Wireless Telegraphy Receiver

Built by W. Shapland, U. C. W. Aberystwyth, 1905

An early wireless radio receiver. Named Coherer due to the metal fillings in the tube ‘cohering’ or sticking together when a radio signal was applied. This allowed for a greater D.C current to flow. A signal closes the coherer, which closes the relay, causing the bell to ring. The projection from the bell clapper shakes the coherer and resets it.

Wireless Telegraphy Coils

Metal coils used in early wireless telegraphy receivers.

From B. Davies’ collection.

Type B5 Radio Valve

By BTH, 1925

BTH (British Thompson-Houston) Type B5 valve for use in wireless radio receivers.

Telegraph Licences

1923-1929

A collection of licences for Mr. John Slack of Stockport “to establish a wireless receiving station.”

Brownie “BBC” No. 2 Model Crystal Radio Set

By Brownie Wireless Co., 1925

This set is made from moulded ebonite and is one of the first radios to have a plastic housing. Called the BBC because it could be tuned to the BBC’s medium wave transmitters.

Condenser

Circa 1905

Variable step condenser likely used in early wireless telegraphy.

Model of Wheatstone and Cooke’s Single Needle Telegraph

Circa 1890

Used on railways up until 1950, this telegraph was an improvement on the multi-needle telegraph. However, the code was more complex and required a longer transmission time.

Purchased from St. David’s College, Lampeter, 1945.

Single Needle Telegraph Variant

Circa 1890

A model of Wheatstone and Cooke’s single needle telegraph, in bad condition.

Two Stage L. F. Amplifier

By Wates Bros. Ltd., London, 1924

A two-stage L. F. amplifier for converting 1 or 2 valve receivers into loudspeaker. Valves are not original.

Atlantic Telegraph Cable

Circa 1857

A small piece of the transatlantic telegraph cable, for use with which Thompsons reflecting galvanometer was developed.

Atlantic Telegraph Cable Charm

Circa 1857

A small section of the transatlantic telegraph cable that has been made into a charm with the inscription: ‘Atlantic Telegraph Cable 1857. M. McC. To W. J. R. P.’