Pen register, c. 1900.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the storied history of Winnetka’s Fire Department from an article from the Fall/Winter 2014 issue of the Gazette.
Description
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fires were a menacing threat to all Winnetka. The Winnetka Fire Department could respond more quickly to local emergencies using a device like this one. The J.H. Bunnell & Co. pen register, much like a tickertape recorder, used telegraph signals to relay urgent messages in case of a fire.
Communication Contraption, narrated by Joan Evanich
Gallery: Winnetka Fire Department
