Dictaphone
The Dictaphone Company Ltd.
Category
Technological items
Date
Unknown
Materials
Metal, rubber, baize, vinyl and bakelite.
Measurements
Dictaphone - 315 mm (length); 160 mm (width); 245 mm (height), Box of weights - 420 mm (length); 188 mm (width); 137 mm (height), Wooden seat - 382 mm (length); 152 mm (width), Weights (min) - 54 mm (diameter), Weights (max) - 100 mm (diameter)
Place of origin
Kingsway House, Kingsway
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 662592
Summary
A Dictaphone and weighing scales. The Dictaphone comprises a black metal rectangular base with a hinged lid. Attached to the underside of the lid is the 'Universal Electric Motor' and its corresponding cooling fan, and a perforated cylinder containing an unidentified object. On the top of the lid are the recording working parts, comprising a Bakelite horn-shaped mouth piece on the end of a flexible tube, which is attached to a tabulated sliding bar. Also on this bar is a switch labelled 'Dictate'. On the left hand side is a fly wheel with a rubber belt attached to the electric motor below. This drives the metal drum which holds a cracked vinyl Dictaphone cylinder. At the front is a speed control labelled 'F' (fast) and 'S' (slow). Below this on the front side of the Dictaphone reads 'The Dictaphone Reg. U.S. Pat Off.' in gold coloured lettering. The base of the Dictaphone is covered with green baize which is becoming detached. The scales come in rectangular wooden box with a hinged lid. Inside are seven metal weights. Five of these are circular with slots. There are three 1lb weights, one 2lb weight and one 3lb weight. There are also two rectangular weights(?) with no indication of what each one weighs. There is also a long metal rod with a hook at one end. The five circular weights may be slotted onto this rod. There is a metal chain with a hook at one end and a ring at the other. There is also a rectangular piece of wood suspended from four lengths of webbing or braid which in turn are suspended from three metal rods forming a triangle. The wood and braid appear to be some form of weighing scales, possibly for weighing children. A child could have sat on the wooden 'seat'. It is interesting that the circular weights read '1 lb-1 Stone', '2 lb-2 Stone' and '3lb-3 Stone'. Total number of items is 9.
Marks and inscriptions
Plate between fly wheel and drum: 'THE// DICTAPHONE// (REGD. U.K. AND ABROAD)// COMPANY, LTD.// HEAD OFFICE KINGSWAY HOUSE, TELEPHONE// KINGSWAY, LONDON, W.C.2. REGENT 1460/1// BRANCH OFFICES MANCHESTER, GLASGOW,// BIRMINGHAM, LIVERPOOL, CARDIFF,// NEWCASTLE ON TYNE, LEEDS.' Plate on the motor: 'TYPE N/ UNIVERSAL/ ELECTRIC MOTOR/ NO. 08249/ DICTAPHONE/ CORPORATION/ NEW YORK/ SOLE MANUFACTURERS/ MADE IN U.S.A./ WOUND FOR A.C. OR D.C./ ANY VOLTAGE WITH/ PROPER RESISTANCE'
Makers and roles
The Dictaphone Company Ltd., maker