Lecture – Changing the Lights…Changing the Sound | The Evolution of Sound Signals

In 1960, the Coast Guard began a program to automate its lighthouses. This effort required the replacement of air-driven fog signals with electronic fog signals. Sound signals in the US started with canons, then progressed to other percussion devices, e.g. bells and gongs, and then air driven horns.  The culmination of air powered horns was the diaphone.

Automating lighthouses led to the automating of sound signals, because many sound signals were light stations. The focus of Mr. Konheim’s talk is that one of the consequences of automating lighthouses was the replacement of tone-rich signals with electronically generated pure-tone signals, which had all of the charm of a dial tone. The effects of the replacement on residents in lighthouse environs will also be examined.

Tickets $10

National Lighthouse Museum
200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point
Staten Island, NY 10301











When: Fri., Oct. 28, 2016 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

In 1960, the Coast Guard began a program to automate its lighthouses. This effort required the replacement of air-driven fog signals with electronic fog signals. Sound signals in the US started with canons, then progressed to other percussion devices, e.g. bells and gongs, and then air driven horns.  The culmination of air powered horns was the diaphone.

Automating lighthouses led to the automating of sound signals, because many sound signals were light stations. The focus of Mr. Konheim’s talk is that one of the consequences of automating lighthouses was the replacement of tone-rich signals with electronically generated pure-tone signals, which had all of the charm of a dial tone. The effects of the replacement on residents in lighthouse environs will also be examined.

Tickets $10

National Lighthouse Museum
200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point
Staten Island, NY 10301

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