
3 5 c m
40cm
actual image size: 32cm x 27cm
Description
This simple three-nail microphone was the work of English-born music profesor David Hughes (1831-1900). Hughes discovered that loose electrical contacts are very sensitive to vibrations, including sound. By placing three nails on a wooden board, Hughes created a transducer more efficient than Bell's telephone. This particular model could even detect a fly's footstep. Hughes was so impresed by its ability that he likened it to a 'sound microscope' and decided to call it a 'microphone'. Hughes's microphone was the precursor of the modern carbon microphone.
Image Details
Image Ref.
10213645
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