The Telephone Historical Centre Collections tell the tale of communications technology since Alexander Graham Bell first patented his basic design in 1876. The museum exhibits technology, businesses and people who have made Alberta’s telecom history so unique.
No matter your interests or collecting habits, THG has something for everyone. From collectors to those simply curious to learn more about the history of telecom services, there’s sure to be something in here that appeals to everyone!
The Story of the Telephone
From early rotary dial phones to modern mobiles, this exhibition explores the evolution of telephone technology over time. Additionally, this show honors generations of men and women who built telephone networks by erecting poles, burying cables, designing technology platforms to run them and making this network work efficiently.
Chimu people of Peru invented the world’s earliest known telephone in 7th century AD using gourds and stretched hide. Later in 1672, Robert Hooke proved that sound can travel along strings or wires due to mechanical vibrations.
Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone in 1876 is widely recognized as one of the seminal moments in human communication history. Through it, people could talk face-to-face over long distances; businesses were able to expand their customer bases instantly while consumers could communicate instantly between each other instantly – leading to modern internet and social networking services like Twitter or Facebook. Telephone exchanges connected pairs of telephones so individuals could call anyone from home or business instantly.
The Telephone Kiosk Collection
At an age when communication can happen instantly on mobile phones, it can be easy to forget the days when telephone boxes were used as gathering places – for conversations between friends or even just to see who was calling. Yet these iconic relics of yesteryear remain; some can be found preserved within the grounds of Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Bromsgrove UK at National Kiosk Collection.
This collection comprises 32 kiosks from 1920-1999 used by both British Telecom (BT) and the Post Office, as well as emergency call boxes provided by AA and RAC emergency call boxes, and the red police booth made famous by Doctor Who.
The K8 designed by Bruce Martin and Douglas Scott stands out among our collection. Crafted out of aluminium rather than concrete, its construction was not only more cost effective but also simplified the decorum found on other kiosks.
The Telephone Exchange Collection
This collection showcases innovation, technology and culture through generations of workers who erected poles, laid cable lines and created communication devices that revolutionised our way of communicating.
This photograph depicts a switchboard inside of an environment which appears to be both telegraph office and general store. It is packed with numerous telegraph cables and surface wiring from earlier eras; also, women seated are wearing dresses dating from 1920s.
Telephone Directories published during the late 19th and early 20th centuries provide a fascinating window into social history. These unique records help trace the evolution of telephone technology by documenting how people used it. This Directory collection is organized alphabetically with files on exchange histories, facts and figures as well as buildings storms disasters as well as key figures in each company’s history – this series requires special handling due to limited space availability.
The Virtual Museum of Telecommunications
Alexander Graham Bell revolutionized our world when he secured a patent for his telephone invention, enabling people to connect over long distances for communication purposes, sharing ideas and information never before possible.
The Virtual Museum of Telecommunications is an online network portal that hosts rich content relating to artifacts from museums and galleries throughout the UK and internationally. The museum was created using an archive that had been held by British Telecommunications (BT), but closed down in 1997.
This collection showcases how communications technology has advanced through time. It features working switching equipment, 32 kiosks of various designs, an operator switchboard from Winter Park Telephone Company and many other rare artifacts – many available through virtual tours available on Museum websites.
