Posted 3 months ago
earthandma…
(109 items)
02/03/2025
Bronze, roughly 3 inches in diameter. There were 12,000 of these medals awarded to exhibitors.
Bell introduced the telephone to the public at the exhibition held in 1876. Indeed, one of the most innovative attractions was Alexander Graham Bell's telephone. Bell's device was connected at opposite ends of the 1,400-foot-long building (known as Machinery Hall). Visitors could place calls over a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile connected by a copper wire.
The original gold medal presented to Bell in Philadelphia is currently not on display. There are reproductions available on the open market.
02/07/2025
Added from my collection, a medal as awarded by the United States Centennial Commission in 1876. A beautiful medal atop a purple cloth cushion. Please keep in mind, this is one medallion out of 12,000 or more handed out. Also, the telephone was considered to be "a toy" - and A.G. Bell was a relative unknown. Also, the Bell company was not really making money - the patent was the main asset in 1876.
