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19th Century Timothy Holden and Son, Early Model Telephones

19th Century Timothy Holden and Son, Early Model Telephones19th Century Timothy Holden and Son, Early Model Telephones
Lot #: 386
19th Century Timothy Holden and Son, Early Model Telephones
In Honeoye Falls, the successful mercantile and banking partnership of Timothy Holden and his son Alexander, inspired the younger man to set up a rudimentary communication system between his home and the Holden Bank. This contraption pre-dated Bell's device by a couple of years, though no one was about to attempt a patent on it. A recipe of piano wire, sleigh bells and a wooden disc fashioned into a mouthpiece diaphragm, was set in motion by a whack that vibrated clear to the opposing station. A duplicate system reversed the pattern - and enterprising Alex Holden had a leg up on the competition.
Max L 15 in.
Auction Date
May 06, 2022
Estimate: $500-$800

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