Transmitter Collection

Marconi radio apparatus
Marconi radio equipment on a ship. The equipment includes headphones and a Morse code key (lower centre). The equipment is labelled (left-right)

Marconi radio valve. This is a Marconi transmitter valve of the type M.T.6. Marconi patented his radio equipment in 1896, founding a company in 1897 to build the new equipment

Marconi with his radio, 19th century
Marconi with his radio, 19th-century artwork. The apparatus consists of a receiver and a transmitter. Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi (1874-1937)

Radio Station Tower at Tuckerton, NJ
Radio Station Tower at Tuckerton, New Jersey - 850 feet high Date: circa 1920s

Alexandra Palace, north London, England. The original 1873 building dramatically burnt down, only 16 days after it had opened. It was quickly rebuilt and re-opened in 1875

Marconi Transmitter
Marconi transmitting apparatus

Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison (1847 - 1931), American inventor of the carbon telephone transmitter (1877), phonograph (1878), and incandescent lamp with carbon filament (1879)

Wireless officer sending a message by Morse Code from on board a ship, 1916
Wireless officer sending a message by morse code from on board a ship, 1916. Wireless telegraphy at sea was made possible by the type of sending

Apollo lunar rover, artwork. Two Apollo astronauts in a lunar rover, exploring on the Moon. Their lunar landing module is at upper left

Old and new methods of communication. At right is the former home of Samuel Morse (1791-1872), who invented the electric telegraph and the Morse code

Traffic Accident Group
A Metropolitan Police Traffic Accident Group, consisting of two Triumph motorcycles and one Wolseley 6/110 motor car, fitted with radio transmitter and loudspeaker

ALEXANDRA PALACE
Alexandra Palace, north London, England. The original 1873 building dramatically burnt down, only 16 days after it had opened. It was quickly rebuilt and re-opened in 1875. Date: 1875

TV transmitter, Crystal Palace, London C016 / 6286
TV transmitter, Crystal Palace, London. This TV transmitter began transmissions in 1956. At 219 metres tall it is one of Londons tallest structures. Known as Londons Eiffel tower

Cowper's writing telegraph, 1879
3479981 Cowper's writing telegraph, 1879; (add.info.: Cowper's writing telegraph 1879. 1: complete apparatus. 2: the pen on the transmitter. 3: the pen on the receiver)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479248 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Receiver of Bell's photo phone: vibrations of the diaphragm of the transmitter caused light pulses to fall on a light sensitive)

Telephone apparatus available to New York subscribers. This used an Edison transmitter
530468 Telephone apparatus available to New York subscribers. This used an Edison transmitter and a 'pony crown' receiver (lower right of picture)

Breguet telegraph transmitter of 1845, 1845
3480029 Breguet telegraph transmitter of 1845, 1845; (add.info.: Breguet telegraph transmitter of 1845.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Telephone apparatus, 1891
3479396 Telephone apparatus, 1891; (add.info.: Telephone apparatus used by New York subscribers. This used an Edison transmitter and a 'pony-crown' receiver (lower right of picture)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479255 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone. vibrations of the diaphragm of the transmitter caused light pulses to fall on a light)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479250 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Bell's speaking photo phone vibration of the diaphragm at L caused pulses of light to be transmitted to the receiver s)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479249 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Transmitter of Bell's Photo phone: vibrations of the diaphragm at the end of the mouthpiece tube caused pulses of light to be)

Bell's photo phone, 1880
3479247 Bell's photo phone, 1880; (add.info.: The transmitter of Bell's photo phone: vibrations of the diaphragm D, at the end of the mouthpiece tube)

Bell telephone, 1878
3479239 Bell telephone, 1878; (add.info.: Using a Bell telephone, here with a separate transmitter and receiver. Thomas Edison, dated 1878.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Transmitter of early model of Breguet dial telegraph, 1874
3480027 Transmitter of early model of Breguet dial telegraph, 1874; (add.info.: Transmitter of early model of Breguet dial telegraph, 1874.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

New York telephone subscriber making call through operator at telephone exchange
530469 New York telephone subscriber making call through operator at telephone exchange. Apparatus in picture used an Edison transmitter and a 'pony-crown' receiver

Chicago Police report to headquarters using a street telephone to report an accident
5615880 Chicago Police report to headquarters using a street telephone to report an accident; (add.info.: Chicago Police report to headquarters using a street telephone to report an accident 1882)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1876
3479244 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1876; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone (1875), exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1885
3479242 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1885; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's (1847-1922) telephone, exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876

Transmitter of Breguet's dial telegraph, 1874
3480030 Transmitter of Breguet's dial telegraph, 1874; (add.info.: Transmitter of Breguet's dial telegraph, 1874.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Cross-section of Edison's lamp-black (carbon) button telephone transmitter (microphone). Wood engraving c1891
530467 Cross-section of Edison's lamp-black (carbon) button telephone transmitter (microphone). Wood engraving c1891.; Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting the transmitter of an early model of a Breguet dial telegraph, 19th century
5311337 An engraving depicting the transmitter of an early model of a Breguet dial telegraph, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1874); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting the transmitter of an early model of a Breguet dial telegraph, 19th century
5311336 An engraving depicting the transmitter of an early model of a Breguet dial telegraph, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1874); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting a detailed view of the transmitter of Ader's telephone, 19th century
5311635 An engraving depicting a detailed view of the transmitter of Ader's telephone, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1890); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1876
3479245 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1876; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone (1875), exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479254 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone. vibrations of the diaphragm of the transmitter caused light pulses to fall on a light)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479253 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone. vibrations of the diaphragm of the transmitter caused light pulses to fall on a light)

Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891
3479252 Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone, 1891; (add.info.: Alexander Graham Bell's photo phone. vibrations of the diaphragm of the transmitter caused light pulses to fall on a light)

Reis's musical telephone, 1896
3479283 Reis's musical telephone, 1896; (add.info.: Transmitter of Reis's musical telephone, made in the form of the human ear)

Radio towers, between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Radio towers, between 1910 and 1920
Radio towers, between 1910 and 1920. USA

Winter Hill TV transmitter 33762_025
Winter Hill television transmitter, Lancashire, 2019. SD6614

New York City, Brooklyn, Greenpoint, WNYC Transmitter park

New York City, couple admiring view from WNYC Transmitter Park located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn

Cable and Wireless Station. Lagos, Nigeria Date: circa 1930s

Crystal Palace Transmitting Station 35098_039
The Crystal Palace Transmitting Station, Penge, Greater London, 2021

Crystal Palace park 35098_049
Site of The Crystal Palace, which was destroyed by fire in 1936, and the Crystal Palace Transmitting Station, Penge, Greater London, 2021

Crystal Palace park 35098_032
Site of The Crystal Palace, which was destroyed by fire in 1936, and the Crystal Palace Transmitting Station, Penge, Greater London, 2021

Crystal Palace park 35098_030
Site of The Crystal Palace, which was destroyed by fire in 1936, and the Crystal Palace Transmitting Station, Penge, Greater London, 2021

Black Beacon EFC01_01_03_127_57009
Black Beacon, Orford Ness, Orford, East Suffolk, England, UK. A view of the Black Beacon and its associated power house from the west with Orfordness Lighthouse in the distance

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The transmitter, a revolutionary invention that changed the course of communication history. It all began with Marconi's radio apparatus, which paved the way for long-distance wireless communication in the late 19th century. With his groundbreaking Marconi radio valve, he transmitted signals across vast distances, forever altering how we connect. Imagine Marconi himself standing proudly next to his radio, a symbol of innovation and progress. His transmitter allowed messages to be sent and received effortlessly, bridging gaps between people and places like never before. One iconic image is that of the Radio Station Tower at Tuckerton, NJ - an imposing structure reaching towards the sky as it broadcasts information far and wide. Similarly, Alexandra Palace became a beacon of connectivity as it housed one of Marconi's transmitters during its early days. But let us not forget other pioneers like Thomas Edison who contributed to this technological revolution. Their inventions complemented each other; Edison's genius in electrical engineering enhanced transmission capabilities even further. In times of war or emergency at sea, wireless officers relied on Morse Code to send crucial messages from onboard ships. The sight of these skilled individuals diligently tapping away on their machines evokes a sense of urgency and dedication. Fast forward to space exploration: the Apollo lunar rover carried astronauts across unknown terrain while relying on transmitters for vital communications back home. This artwork captures both human ingenuity and reliance on advanced technology beyond Earth's boundaries. Back down on Earth, TV transmitters such as Crystal Palace in London brought entertainment into homes worldwide. These towering structures broadcasted news updates, sports events, and beloved shows - connecting communities through shared experiences. However impressive our advancements may be though when accidents occur – like those depicted by Traffic Accident Group – communication becomes essential for quick response and assistance. Reflecting upon old versus new methods of communication reminds us how far we've come but also highlights challenges faced along the way. From smoke signals to smartphones – each era has its unique transmitter, shaping the way we interact and share information.