[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> THERE A FUNCTIONING STEAM ENGINE HERE THAT ONCE POWERED AN ENTIRE FACTORY DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

THIS USED TO TRANSMIT THE NEWSPAPER TO BLOCK ISLAND.

THIS WHOLE GENERATOR BROUGHT ELECTRICITY TO A LOCAL UNIVERSITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY.

THIS IS "TREASURES INSIDE THE MUSEUM."

♪ ♪ >> ON A COOL, DREARY FALL MORNING, ACTIVITY BEGINS TO STIR AROUND THIS COLLECTION OF OLD BUILDINGS.

AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE REMNANTS OF A SMALL TOWN OR SOME KIND OF OLD MOVIE SET.

BUT THOSE WHO HAVE GATHERED ON THIS CAMPUS SHARE A PASSION FOR HISTORY AND THE SERENITY IS ABOUT TO BE INTERRUPTED.

>> THE MUSEUM WAS FOUNDED IN 1964 AS THE NEW ENGLAND WIRELESS MUSEUM BY BOB MARY OWN AND A GROUP OF HIS FRIENDS.

THREE YEARS LATER, HE HAD ENOUGH ENTHUSIASTS THAT THEY WANTED TO ADD STEAM TO IT.

IT BECAME THE WIRELESS AND STEAM MUSEUM.

>> THE WIRELESS AND STEAM MUSEUM HERE ON EAST GREENWICH, RHODE ISLAND IS REALLY A COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS FROM ROBERT AND NANCY MERRIAM AND THEIR LOVE FOR ANTIQUE TECHNOLOGY.

>> YOU WOULD PROBABLY EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS OLD FIRE ENGINE THAT ONCE BELONGED TO THE TOWN OF WESTERLEIGH, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT THAT LIKE MOST OF THE TREASURES IN THIS MUSEUM, IT STILL WORKS.

RHODE ISLAND WAS BUILT BY MANUFACTURING AND THESE ARE THE MACHINES THAT POWERED INDUSTRY.

>> WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF TREASURES HERE, STEAM ENGINES THAT POWERED A LOT OF THE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, A LOT OF THE MILLS AROUND RHODE ISLAND PRODUCING TEXTILES INITIALLY, AND LATER ON SOME OF THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WE HAVE HERE AND SO FORTH.

JUST DELIVERED POWER TO THE MANUFACTURING MIGHT OF RHODE ISLAND.

>> MOST OF THESE STEAM ENGINES WERE BUILT IN RHODE ISLAND AND IN THAT BUSINESS, NO NAME WAS BIGGER THAN CORLISS.

WE HAVE 18 INCHES HERE, 10 OF WHICH WERE MANUFACTURED HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

THIS WAS A GEORGE CORLISS ENGINE MANUFACTURED HERE IN PROVIDENCE AND THEY WERE LUCKILY -- LUCKY TO FIND IT.

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY AT A WOOD TURNING FACTORY IN NORTHERN MAINE AND WAS MOVED BACK HOME TO RHODE ISLAND BY THE MARIAMS AND OTHERS TO GO ALONG WITH A COLLECTION HERE AT THE MUSEUM.

GEORGE CORLISS WAS AN INVENTOR.

HE STARTED WITH A LOT OF INVENTORS WAY BACK WHEN WITH ACTUALLY SEWING MACHINES.

THEY WERE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE WAY FACTORIES WERE RUN, AND GEORGE CORLISS HIMSELF WANTED TO IMPROVE THESE ENGINES.

THESE ENGINES ARE NOT VERY EFFICIENT.

THEY ARE LESS THAN 10% EFFICIENT.

HE WAS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THAT.

GEORGE CORLISS'S INVENTION, THE KEY PART OF IT HERE IS THIS VALVE THAT REDUCES STEAM CONSUMPTION AND MADE IT MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

THEY STILL DIDN'T GET IT ABOVE 10%.

AN INTERESTING CAVEAT HERE IN TODAY'S WORLD IN 2020, MOST OF OUR ELECTRICITY COMES FROM STEAM .

HOWEVER, IT IS STEAM TURBINES, NOT A RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINE.

>> BERNIE KNOWS THESE ENGINES AS WELL AS ANYONE, INCLUDING WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP THEM OPERATIONAL.

>> THESE STEAM ENGINES HAVE TO BE PREHEATED.

YOU THINK ABOUT TODAY'S ROAD, YOU CLIMB IN YOUR CAR AT ZERO DEGREES AND YOU HIT THE START BUTTON AND IT STARTS.

NO BIG DEAL.

CAN'T DO THAT WITH THESE.

THESE ENGINES -- THIS ENGINE IS HOT.

WE WERE PREHEATING IT WITH LIVE STEAM.

SOME OF THESE ENGINES WOULD HAVE RUN IN THE MILL 24/7.

UNLIKE WITH YOUR CAR TODAY WERE YOU SIMPLY GET THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES, THIS WAS SOMETHING ONGOING WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING.

THE ENGINEER RUNNING IT, THEY WERE PROUD OF WHAT THEY DID AND PROUD OF THE JOB THEY HAD.

AN ENGINEER WAS ACTUALLY NOT A MENIAL JOB.

WHAT I'M OILING HERE, EVERY ONE OF THESE MOVING PARTS HAS A LITTLE HOLE IN IT.

THIS IS SIMPLY OIL.

NOTHING SPECIAL.

THESE ITEMS I'M FILLING ARE CALLED OILERS AND THEY ARE ADJUSTED TO DRIP SLOWLY.

>> ONCE THE PRELIMINARY WORK HAS BEEN TENDED TO AND THERE IS SUFFICIENT STEAM PRESSURE, THE ENGINE CAN GET STARTED.

>> TO START ONE OF THESE ENGINES, IF WE WERE RUNNING A SMALLER STEAM ENGINE, I WOULD GO OVER, GRAB THE FLYWHEEL, AND TURN THE ENGINE.

NOT TO SPIN IT, BUT TO GET IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO START.

THIS BIG ENGINE, I CAN CLIMB ON IT AND JUMP AND IT ISN'T GOING TO MOVE.

WHAT I HAVE TO DO IS MANUALLY OPERATE THESE VALVES UNTIL THE ENGINE MOVES AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I WILL RELEASE THIS LINKAGE RELATED TO THAT PEDAL AND EVERYTHING WILL BECOME AUTOMATIC.

SO HERE WE HAVE A STARTING BAR, YOU STICK IT INTO OPERATE THIS VALVE MECHANISM.

WE ARE PHYSICALLY GOING TO EMIT STEAM TO THE ENGINE AND GET IT TO TURN.

THIS ENGINE WOULD HAVE RUN THE ENTIRE FACTORY FROM A VERY LARGE , FLAT LEATHER BELT THAT RAN RIGHT ON THIS FLYWHEEL RAMP.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TIED TO LINE SHAFTING THAT RAN OVERHEAD IN THE FACTORY, AND FROM THAT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BELT DOWN TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MACHINE.

YOU FIGURE THIS FLYWHEEL, THAT WIDE, SO IT WAS A BIG, LEATHER BELT THAT WAS PROBABLY MAYBE EVEN 100 FEET LONG THAT WENT OFF OF THIS TO RUN THAT SHAFT.

>> WITH THIS INVENTION, CORLISS HAD REVOLUTIONIZED MANUFACTURING.

NOW IT WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR INDUSTRY TO BE LOCATED ADJACENT TO A RELIABLE SOURCE OF WATERPOWER.

>> THIS PART RIGHT HERE IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT INVENTION IN STEAM ENGINE TECHNOLOGY UNTIL THE INVENTION OF A STEAM TURBINE.

>> CONSISTENT POWER AND RELIABILITY ENABLED THE USE OF STEAM ENGINES FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION.

>> THE DEMAND FOR THESE ENGINES WORLDWIDE WAS SO INCREDIBLE THAT EVERYBODY THAT HAD THE ABILITY TO MANUFACTURE ONE DID.

THIS ENGINE IS A HARRIS CORLISS.

WILLIAM HAIRLESS -- WILLIAM HARRIS WORKED FOR GEORGE CORLISS IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

THE DEMAND FOR THESE ENGINES WAS SO GREAT THAT HE SAW A MARKET TO GO OUT ON HIS OWN AND START MANUFACTURING ENGINES.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, HE WAS PAYING PATENT ROYALTIES TO GEORGE CORLISS TO BUILD THIS ENGINE.

WE HAVE A COUPLE ENGINES HERE THAT RAN GENERATORS OR ALTERNATORS TO MAKE ELECTRICITY FOR TROLLEY SYSTEMS.

NEW ENGLAND HAD A VERY EXTENSIVE TROLLEY SYSTEM.

YOU COULD GO VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE IN NEW ENGLAND ON A TROLLEY CAR.

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE LOTS OF TRANSFERS, BUT THEY HAVE TO GET ELECTRICITY FROM SOMEWHERE.

MOST OF THOSE WERE BIG ENGINES LIKE THIS THAT JUST RAN A BIG GENERATOR MAKING 600 VOLTS TO RUN THE TROLLEY SYSTEM.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER TREASURED STEAM ENGINE HERE THAT WAS USED TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY.

>> WE HAVE A SMALL ENGINE.

THIS IS ONLY 25 HORSEPOWER.

THE BIGGER ENGINES GO UP TO 150.

TO START THIS ENGINE, IT IS MUCH EASIER.

YOU TURN THE FLYWHEEL UNTIL IT IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, OPEN STEAM VALVE, AND IT WILL START TO RUN.

SEE HOW EASY THAT WAS COMPARED TO SOME OF THE BIGGER ENGINES?

THIS IS A NEW YORK SAFETY STEAM ENGINE.

IT'S ANOTHER PRODUCT OF RHODE ISLAND.

THIS WAS NEW TECHNOLOGY.

PEOPLE HEARD ABOUT BOILERS EXPLODING AND ALL OF THAT.

SO THE SAFETY AND THE NAME, ALSO IT WAS MARKETING.

>> THIS ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN HOPE VALLEY, RHODE ISLAND AND PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION GAINING PROMINENCE IN THE AREA.

>> THIS ENGINE IS 25 HORSEPOWER.

IT WAS ONE OF THREE ENGINES THAT WERE SHIPPED FROM HOPE VALLEY TO THE RHODE ISLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, WHICH IS TODAY THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

IT WAS THE FIRST POWERPLANT FROM THE COLLEGE.

YOU CAN SEE THE ENGINE RUNNING WITH A FLAT BELT, RUNNING A GENERATOR.

THIS ENGINE IS ONLY 25 HORSEPOWER.

THEY HAD THREE OF THEM.

THAT MEANS ALL THE ELECTRICITY THAT COLLEGE CAMPUS HAD WAS 75 HORSEPOWER.

>> EVENTUALLY, THE DEMANDS OF THE COLLEGE WERE MET BY THE ELECTRIC COMPANY BUT THIS STEAM ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING, FINDING A HOME IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WHERE IT WAS USED TO INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION.

>> WHILE WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE THESE HUGE AND VISIBLE PARTS OF THE COLLECTION HERE, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF THE ORIGINAL STEAM ENGINE MANUFACTURERS RECORDS.

THEY ARE DRAWINGS.

THEY ARE SERVICE RECORDS.

>>>> THOSE RECORDS OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE SCALE OF PRODUCTION AND CONTINUED INNOVATION THAT RAPIDLY TOOK PLACE.

>> THIS IS A BAXTER STEAM ENGINE AND BOILER.

IT IS 10 HORSEPOWER.

10 HORSEPOWER STEAM ENGINE AND 10 HORSEPOWER BOILER.

IT IS ALSO VERTICAL.

THE IDEA WAS IT WAS COMBINED ENGINE AND BOILER AND TOOK VERY LITTLE FLOORSPACE.

>> THIS BAXTER ENGINE WAS ACTUALLY BUILT BY ANOTHER NOTEWORTHY COMPANY, COLT FIREARMS.

>> COLT FIREARMS HAD A VERY GOOD REPUTATION AND THEY KIND OF WERE DOWN ON THEIR SALES BECAUSE THE PRODUCT WORKED SO WELL.

THEY TOOK ON THE PROJECT OF BUILDING THE BAXTER COMBINED STEAM ENGINE AND BOILER.

>> A WELL-MAINTAINED STEAM ENGINE COULD LAST A LONG TIME.

EACH ONE HAD ITS OWN DISTINCT SOUND AND RHYTHM, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR AN EXPERIENCED ENGINEER TO TELL HOW WELL A STEAM ENGINE WAS RUNNING JUST BY LISTENING.

>> THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SPEED CONTROL FOR THE ENGINE.

THIS ENGINE IS RUNNING SLOWER THAN INTENDED RIGHT NOW SO I'M ACTUALLY CONTROLLING IT WITH THIS THROTTLE VALVE BUT IF I SLOW THE ENGINE DOWN, YOU WILL NOTICE THEY COLLAPSE INWARD AND THE TOP GOES UPWARD, WHICH WOLD BE ASKING FOR MORE STEAM.

WHEN I STEAM IT BACK UP, YOU WILL NOTICE THE TOP GOES DOWN AND THE WEIGHTS GO OUTWARD.

>> ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN BUSINESS IN RHODE ISLAND WAS THE HARISH MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

>> WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF HARISH MANUFACTURING -- HER SHELF HERRESHOFF, HE WORKED WITH CORLISS FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THEY WORKED WITH STEAM ENGINES.

>> THOSE ENGINES CAME IN ALL SIZES AND WERE DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR MARINE APPLICATIONS.

>> THIS IS CALLED JACKING GEAR.

AND MARINE STEAM ENGINES PRETTY MUCH ALL HAD IT TO GET IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO START.

THIS IS A TRIPLE EXPANSION STEAM ENGINE.

IT IS 385 HORSEPOWER.

>> THIS MODEL WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED DURING THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR TO POWER TORPEDO BOATS.

THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE NEVER MADE IT TO SEE.

IT WAS USED TO POWER A GENERATOR AT A COPPER REFINERY IN NEW YORK.

>> RHODE ISLAND JUST HAPPENS TO HAVE HAD THE RIGHT CONCOCTION OF AN GENUITY, SKILLED LABOR, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND CAPITAL FOR THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION TO HAVE STARTED HERE.

>> ANOTHER REVOLUTION UNDERWAY IN THIS COUNTRY CENTERED AROUND COMMUNICATIONS.

A WALK PAST THE TREASURES IN THESE DISPLAYS WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH AN EVOLUTION FROM TELEGRAPH TO TV.

THE STORY BEGINS WITH SAMUEL MORRIS.

>> SAMUEL MORRIS WAS A PAINTER AND DID PORTRAITS OF POLITICAL FIGURES AND WHEN HE WAS DOING ONE OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE, HE GOT A MAIL MESSAGE FROM A HORSEBACK DELIVERY SAYING THAT HIS WIFE WAS ILL.

SO HE DROPPED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND WENT BACK HOME IN MASSACHUSETTS, ONLY TO FIND SHE HAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY AND WAS BURIED.

HE HAD ONLY HAD -- IF HE HAD ONLY HAD MORE INSTANT COMMUNICATION, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE SOONER.

THAT GAVE HIM THE IMPETUS TO FOCUS ON THIS THING IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND, WHICH WAS ELECTRICAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS ALL OPENING AND CLOSING THE CIRCUIT WITH A SIMPLE SWITCH.

FIRST WE HAD WIRED TELEGRAPHY, WHICH IS TEXT MESSAGING.

EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TEXT MESSAGING IS ON A CELL PHONE.

IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING TO FIND OUT THE BEGINNING.

THIS IS TEXT MESSAGING RIGHT HERE AND WAY BACK IN 1844 WHEN SAMUEL MORRIS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSMITTED FROM WASHINGTON TO BALTIMORE A MESSAGE WIRED COMMUNICATION BEGAN, INSTANT COMMUNICATION BEGAN.

>> WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A LONG LINE OF INNOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE ARE TUBES AND MICROPHONES, CRYSTAL RECEIVERS AND EARPHONES, METERS AND CABLES OF ALL SIZES.

EACH ONE ADVANCED THE PROCESS OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION IN SOME WAY.

>> CYRUS FIELD HAD A DREAM TO CONNECT AMERICA TO EUROPE WITH CABLE.

BUT THE STORY OF LAYING THIS CABLE IS INCREDIBLY INTERESTING.

HE REDEFINED THE WORD PERSEVERANCE.

IT WAS FAILURE AFTER FAILURE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE UP AGAINST TO TAKE 2000 MILES OF CABLE AND PUT IT ON A SHIP AND STRING IT FROM ONE POINT IN NEWFOUNDLAND TO WESTERN IRELAND.

IT'S JUST A GREAT UNDERTAKING AND TOOK A LONG TIME.

FAILURES LIKE THIS COST A LOT OF MONEY.

ACCOST THE OCEAN, THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH A SMALLER CABLE BUT WHEN IT GOT TO THE ROCKY SHORE, THEY WOULD INCREASE THE SIZE SO IT CAN HANDLE OCEAN WAVES AND ROCKS.

THEY PULLED THE HUGE CABLES TO THE ENDS OF THE RADIO HOUSE.

THAT IS WHY THEY WERE DIFFERENT DIAMETER.

WHEN HIS DREAM WAS FULFILLED, WE HAD INSTANT COMMUNICATION FROM AMERICA TO EUROPE.

QUEEN VICTORIA HAD SENT A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.

IT WAS 93 WORDS LONG AND IT TOOK 17 HOURS.

>> FOR THE DAY, THAT WAS INSTANT COMMUNICATIONS.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT REPRESENTED IS THE USE OF SPARK TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF WIRES.

>> THIS IS A ROTARY SPARK GENERATOR.

HERE WE HAVE A MOTORIZED DISC WHERE THE SPARK JUMPS ACROSS THE CONTACT ON EACH SIDE BUT THE SPINNING DISC KEEPS IT ALL COOL SO THE CONTACTS DON'T BURN OUT AS FAST.

ALSO, IT CREATES MORE OF A BUZZ THAT'S EASIER ON THE AIR WHEN YOU ARE LISTENING TO MORRIS CLAUDE -- MORSE CODE.

SO THAT GETS UP TO SPEED.

TURN ON THE VOLTAGE.

THE MORSE CODE KEY IS HOOKED UP TO THE SPARK GENERATOR.

YOU WILL SEE A BRIGHT BLUE SPARK.

SO IT HAS MORE OF A TONE TO IT THAN THE RAW BUZZ OF A STATIONARY.

[BUZZING] >> SEEING AND HEARING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION HELPS VISITORS UNDERSTAND HOW IT ALL WORKS.

NEXT-DOOR TO THE WIRELESS BUILDING IS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, THE POINT JUDITH MASSEY STATION.

THIS BUILDING WAS MOVED HERE IN 1983 FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION IN NARRAGANSETT, COMPLETE WITH ALL OF ITS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSIDE.

IT'S A BUILDING THAT SERVED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PURPOSES DURING HIS LIFETIME.

>> IN 19 OH THREE, THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL IN RHODE ISLAND FIGURED IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO HELP THE PEOPLE ON BLOCK ISLAND GET THEIR NEWS AND IT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE DONE WIRELESSLY FROM POINT JUDITH, THE CLOSEST POINT BETWEEN BLOCK ISLAND AND RHODE ISLAND.

SO THEY ASKED THE PROMINENT WIRELESS GUY VERY BUSY PROMOTING HIS EQUIPMENT EVERYWHERE TO SET UP A STATION IN POINT JUDITH, RHODE ISLAND AND SET UP A STATION IN BLOCK ISLAND TO RECEIVE THE NEWS.

SO HE ENDED UP UNKNOWINGLY CREATING THE FIRST WIRELESS PRESS SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

>> IN 1907, A RADIO ENGINEER BY THE NAME OF WALTER MASSEY TOOK OVER THE SERVICE AND WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO EXPAND THE COMMUNICATION SERVICES.

>> HE GOT PERMISSION FROM THE FALL RIVER LINE OF SHIFTS TO INSTALL HIS EQUIPMENT IN ONE SHIFT TO SEE HOW IT WENT.

THEY ENDED UP COMMUNICATING FOR LIKE THREE HOURS WHILE ON THE OCEAN.

THEY SAID GO AHEAD, INSTALL.

NOW THEY CAN COMMUNICATE SHIP TO SHIP, SHIP TO SHORE.

IT WASN'T JUST NEWS TO BLOCK ISLAND ANYMORE.

IT WAS A PROLIFIC BUSINESS WITH PERSONAL MESSAGES AND BUSINESS MESSAGES TO CLIENTS.

ALL THE INFORMATION WOULD COME HERE WIRELESSLY AND TRANSMIT FROM HERE.

THEN HE WOULD TAKE HIS MESSAGES FROM HERE AND BRING THEM TO THE TELEGRAPH TABLE AND SEND TO NARRAGANSETT FOR OTHER LOCAL TOWNS AND BE DISPERSED AS THEY WERE NEEDED.

HOW EXCITING THIS HAD TO HAVE BEEN AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS IN THIS MOMENT OF HISTORY.

TO SHIPS AND HAVE IT BE SUCCESSFUL, AND BE ABLE TO DO A NEWSPAPER ON BLOCK ISLAND WIRELESSLY AND TRANSMIT MESSAGES FROM TELEGRAPH.

THE INSTANT COMMUNICATION WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE BOOST TO THE ECONOMY AND LIFE IN GENERAL.

>> ALTHOUGH CRUDE IN NATURE AND WELL-WORN FROM TIME, MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT AT THE MASSEY STATION IS STILL OPERATIONAL.

ADJACENT TO THE WIRELESS DESK SITS A TELEGRAPH DESK.

THE COMPETING SOUNDS AT HER STATION COULD MAKE INTERPRETING A MESSAGE CHALLENGING IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE INGENUITY OF THE OPERATORS.

>> VERY OFTEN ON A TELEGRAPH DESK, YOU WILL SEE A CAN OF CIGARETTE -- CIGARETTE TOBACCO CAN, EMPTY CANS.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HABITS OF THE TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.

IN THE SOUNDER BOXES AT THE RAILROAD STATIONS, YOU HAVE THE CLICKETY CLACK AND THEN THE CLICKETY CLACK OF THE TRAINS GOING BY.

ALL OF THESE SOUNDS CAN GET MIXED TOGETHER.

SO THEY WOULD TAKE TOBACCO BOXES AND STICK THEM IN THE SOUNDER BOXES TO MAKE A RING SO THEY COULD FOCUS THEIR EARS JUST ON THAT SOUND.

THAT IS THE TELEGRAPH, THIS IS ANOTHER TELEGRAPH, THIS IS THE TRAIN TRACK.

THEY COULD TUNE THE CLICKETY CLACK'S TO A WAY THEY COULD STAY FOCUSED ON IT.

>> A LOT OF OPERATIONS -- OPERATORS LEARNED MORSE CODE USING AN OMNI GRAPH TRANSMITTER USING A NOTCHED METAL DISK TO TRANSMIT CODE TO A SOUNDER.

OPERATORS WERE REQUIRED TO SEND 25 WORDS PER MINUTE, BUT DURING AN EMERGENCY, THAT WOULD SLOW TO 15 WORDS PER MINUTE FOR CLARITY.

>> EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT SOS IS AS FAR AS THE DISASTER MORSE CODE SIGNAL.

PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS MORE COMPLICATED.

IT WAS CQD.

CQ WAS CALLING ANYBODY, AND THE D WAS FOR DISASTER OR DISTRESS.

SOS CAME INTO BEING AROUND 1910 OR SO.

THERE WAS A SHIP, THE PLYMOUTH, USED SOS AND ENDED UP SAVING EVERYONE ON THE SHIP.

SO TITANIC WAS NOT THE FIRST, BUT THEY USED CQD AND SOS ON THE TITANIC.

THIS IS A REPLICA OF THE ROOM FROM 1920.

SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON THE TITANIC.

IT'S A 1000 WATT TRANSMITTER WHICH NORMALLY WOULD NOT BE RIGHT BUT -- NEXT TO THE OPERATOR.

THE SPARK GENERATORS ARE USUALLY IN A SEPARATE ROOM BECAUSE IT WOULD DRIVE THE OPERATORS DOTS -- NUTS.

YOU SCREWED INTO THE DESK OF THE MORSE CODE KEY.

YOU HAVE THE RECEIVING DEVICE HERE.

AN INTENT NOT JUST CONNECTS SWITCH TO GROUND THE ANTENNA DURING AN ELECTRICAL STORM.

JUST TO KEEP THE EQUIPMENT SAFE.

THE RADIO OPERATOR ON THE SHIP WOULD SIT HERE, ONE OR TWO USUALLY, AND EVER SINCE THE TITANIC DISASTER, REGULATIONS WENT INTO PLACE AND ONE WAS THE SHIP'S CLOCK AND I FOUND THAT FASCINATING.

ON THE SHIP'S CLOCK, THERE ARE RED ZONES PAINTED AND THERE ARE TWO PER HOUR, 15 MINUTES TO 18 MINUTES AND 45 MINUTES TO 48 MINUTES.

.

THREE MINUTE SEGMENTS EACH HALF-HOUR.

IT WAS NO LONGER LEGAL TO TRANSMIT.

YOU HAD TO JUST LISTEN.

THAT GAVE ANYONE IN DISTRESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO USE THOSE THREE MINUTES.

THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A THREE MINUTES WITHIN A HALF-HOUR TO TRANSMIT A DISTRESS CALL AND NOT BE INTERFERED WITH SO THE CHANCES OF BEING HEARD WERE MUCH GREATER.

>> THE COLLECTION HERE IS QUITE EXTENSIVE.

THERE ARE TRANSMITTERS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND COMMERCIAL RECEIVERS.

THERE ARE OLD MICROPHONES AND A VARIETY OF SPEAKERS.

ANOTHER WALL INCLUDES AM RADIO'S LIKE YOU MIGHT REMEMBER SEEING IN YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.

ALL ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE NAMES, BUT MANY OF THESE MANUFACTURERS ARE LONG GONE.

A GOOD DEAL OF THESE MACHINES STILL WORK, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS OUTDATED.

THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE NOW IS TO HONOR THE INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS AND REMIND US HOW FAR WE'VE COME IN THE LAST 150 YEARS.

>> EVERYTHING IN THIS BUILDING IS LESS THAN 120 OR SO YEARS OLD .

IT IS EXACTLY WHAT HELPED DRIVE THE EVOLUTION OF MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY WE ENJOY TODAY.

>> HISTORY, NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, IN OUR WORLD IS IMPORTANT.

WE ALL NEED TO KNOW HOW WE GOT TO BE WHERE WE ARE OR HOW SOMETHING CAME ABOUT WORKING.

IN OUR WORLD TODAY, THE ENGINEERS AND THE DESIGNERS ARE NO LESS OF AN ENGINEER OR A DESIGNER THAN THESE GENTLEMEN.

>> WE GO ON FROM THIS TYPE OF THING AND A VACUUM TUBE THAT PERFORMS ONE FUNCTION TO A COMPUTER IN EVERYONE'S POCKET THAT CONTAINS MILLIONS OF THAT TYPE OF THING AND UNDER 100 YEARS.

ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.

EVOLUTION HAS TAKEN OFF ASTRONOMICALLY.

♪ ♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]