The Pageant Of America Collection

Marconi radio apparatus
Marconi radio equipment on a ship. The equipment includes headphones and a Morse code key (lower centre). The equipment is labelled (left-right)

Marconi radio valve. This is a Marconi transmitter valve of the type M.T.6. Marconi patented his radio equipment in 1896, founding a company in 1897 to build the new equipment

Stanley Steamer car, 1906
Stanley Steamer car. This is the 1906 model of the steam-powered car produced by the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, a US company that operated from 1902-1917

Marconi radio apparatus
Marconi radio equipment. This is a Marconi type 31 crystal receiver for ships. Marconi patented his radio equipment in 1896, founding a company in 1897 to build the new equipment

Nikolaus Otto, German engineer C016 / 8868
Nikolaus August Otto (1832-1891), German engineer. Otto invented or worked on several early internal combustion engines, including one in 1862 and the Otto-Langen engine of 1864

Gustavus Swift, US industrialist C016 / 8870
Gustavus Franklin Swift (1839-1903), US industrialist and pioneer of the meat-packing industry. Swift worked in the livestock and animal slaughtering business from the age of 14

Workers laying an oil pipeline, USA C016 / 9000
Workers laying an oil pipeline. Group of men laying an oil pipeline for the Tide Water Oil Company. In 1859, oil was found in the hills of Pennsylvania, USA

Eugen Langen, German engineer C016 / 8869
Eugen Langen (1833-1895), German engineer. Langen worked on early internal combustion engines with Nikolaus Otto, and their Otto-Langen engine won the Grand Prize at the 1867 Paris World Exhibition

Industrial diesel engine, 20th century C016 / 9001
Industrial diesel engine. This engine was built by the Busch-Sulzer Brothers Diesel Engine Company, based in St Louis, Missouri, USA

Peter Hewitt, US electrical engineer C016 / 8851
Peter Cooper Hewitt (1861-1921), US electrical engineer. Hewitt invented a mercury-vapour lamp (patented 1901) and built the first mercury arc rectifier (1902)

Early Marconi apparatus
Marconi radio equipment on a trans-Atlantic liner. The key at lower right was used to tap out a signal in Morse code, which was transmitted by radio waves

Original Marconi apparatus
Original Marconi radio apparatus. Marconi built and experimented with his first radio equipment in Italy in 1894. He then moved to London, England, patented his invention in 1896

Puffing Billy locomotive, constructed at Wylan Colliery in 1813 by the British industrial engineer William Hedley (1779-1843). This locomotive is displayed at the Science Museum in London

Murdocks steam engine of 1784. This model is based on the design by the Scottish engineer William Murdoch (1754-1839). This design was one of the earliest uses of steam on roads

Henrys electromagnetic machine, 1831
Electromagnetic machine, devised and constructed by the US physicist Joseph Henry (1797-1878). He made it in Albany, New York, in 1831, for the laboratory of Yale College

Morse telegraph recording receiver. Model of the original Morse telegraph recording receiver, held at the Carnegie Institute

Early car, 1886 Daimler. This photograph is courtesy of the Deutsches Museum, Munich. It was published in The March of Commerce (1927)

Alexanderson alternator. This apparatus, invented by the Swedish-US engineer Ernst Alexanderson (1878-1975), made voice radio broadcasts possible

Jervis locomotive, museum display. This model is based on a design by the US civil engineer John B. Jervis (1795-1885). This photograph is courtesy of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company

Radio transmitter. Photograph courtesy of the Radio Corporation of America. The photograph forms part of a collection of unpublished images, dating from the 1860s to the 1920s

Worlds highest beacon light, 1920s. This is the Wyoming Beacon, 2620 metres above sea level. Located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA, this beacon guided aeroplanes flying between Chicago and San Francisco

Early car, 1896 Oldsmobile. This is the original Oldsmobile in the US National Museum, Washington DC, USA. Photograph published in The March of Commerce (1927)

Seguin locomotive, France, 1827. Artwork of the first tubular locomotive, constructed in 1827 by the French engineer Marc Seguin (1786-1875) for the railway from Saint Etienne to Lyon, France

Morse telegraph key, first used in about 1844. This photograph is from the Western Union Telegraph Company and the Smithsonian Institution

USS Shenandoah airship and tender
USS Shenandoah airship moored to its tender the newly-converted USS Patoka during tests in 1924. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship used by the US Navy

June Bug aeroplane, 1908. Also called Aerodrome number 3, the June Bug was a single-seat, single-engine biplane that was the third aircraft successfully designed

DH-4 aeroplane radio. This view of the aeroplane cockpit shows the installation of a radio set on a DH-4 (De Havilland 4) model

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"The Pageant of America: A Journey Through Innovation and Progress" Step into the captivating world of "The Pageant of America, " a mesmerizing spectacle showcasing the remarkable advancements that have shaped our modern society. This enthralling journey takes us through pivotal moments in history, where inventors and visionaries paved the way for a brighter future. As we delve into this extraordinary pageant, we encounter Guglielmo Marconi's groundbreaking radio apparatus, revolutionizing communication across vast distances. The Marconi radio valve further amplifies this achievement, propelling humanity towards an era of instant connectivity. Amidst the excitement, we witness the roaring arrival of the Stanley Steamer car in 1906 – a marvel on wheels that propelled us forward with its innovative steam-powered engine. Nikolaus Otto, a brilliant German engineer, joins our procession with his revolutionary internal combustion engine – forever changing transportation as we know it. Gustavus Swift stands tall among these pioneers as an American industrialist who transformed meatpacking and distribution systems. His visionary methods not only ensured food security but also set new standards for efficiency and productivity. In another corner of our grand parade, dedicated workers lay down miles upon miles of oil pipelines across the United States – their tireless efforts fueling progress while connecting nations together. Eugen Langen's contributions to engineering cannot be overlooked; his genius brought forth monumental achievements like Cologne's famous cable railway system. Meanwhile, industrial diesel engines emerge onto center stage – powering industries worldwide and driving economic growth throughout the 20th century. Peter Hewitt electrifies our senses with his brilliance as he introduces transformative electrical engineering innovations to illuminate homes and cities alike. And once again, Marconi's name resounds as early versions of his apparatus captivate audiences with their magical ability to transmit messages wirelessly through thin air. "The Pageant of America" is more than just a celebration; it is an ode to human ingenuity and perseverance.