Having encountered the breathtaking Telephone Museum of New Mexico in Albuquerque on Route 66, it's hard to resist a trip down memory lane.
A Peek into the Past: Examining the Evolution of the Telephone at A Historic Museum
According to the story by CNet, from Alexander Graham Bell, who made the world's first phone call in 1876, to the outdated brick-sized mobile phones of the 1980s, this museum gives visitors a true insight into phones' historical and technological progress.
Initially, this museum is obsessed with the bells and whistles of Magneto payphones. The classic Magneto phone on display was used in Columbus, New Mexico, between 1908 and 1956.
It featured instructions on how to place a call by depositing money after the operator was given permission. Regarding nostalgia, it doesn't get much better than seeing the Alexander Graham Bell Replica Telephone, which fans can learn more about from a post by Science Museum Group.
Having uttered those famous words, 'Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you', it changed the world forever. Along with the phone, visitors may find themselves transfixed by an ancient switchboard.
The Explosion-Proof Telephone - Keeping Mines Safe and Secure
Women formed the majority of telephone operators back then, who would manually patch cables to make a call. The Telephone Museum also displays a machine from the early 20th century called a 'calculagraph'.
Appearing as though straight out of a Steampunk novel, operators would use the levers to punch the start and end times of the call into the card. It's interesting to view a hands-free headset from back in the day, which would give operators the freedom to patch cables.
Something likely to make visitors emotional is the switchboard, which once operated in Columbus, New Mexico 1916. During a village invasion by Pancho Villa, history tells us that the operator stayed calm and used the switchboard to call for help.
Looking back to past technological advancements, we can see the first steps in developing modern phones using the Explosion-Proof Telephone. This was used in places where the slightest spark could spell havoc, most notably in mines.
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A Glimpse into Phone History: An AT&T Museum Adventure
From a similar time period, visitors can also spot the 2 Millionth Telephone installed by Mountain Bell at San Ildefonso Pueblo in New Mexico in 1958. Dropping forward to the 1980s, the museum has a Brick-Size Mobile Phone on display, reminding us of a time before laws were passed against using phones while driving.
Visitors also find themselves drawn towards AT&T's attempt at video conferencing, which apparently met with limited success due to people worrying about their appearance, explained further in an article by Fast Company.
This museum is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in phone history or technology history. The museum gives the feeling of stepping back in time, and it's a great opportunity to view the stunning designs of phones past.
With the latest phones taking us ever further into the future, it's comforting to take a moment to reflect upon how much-unparalleled progress has been made over the years.
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