EDISON, Thomas (1847-1931). Edison Universal Stock Ticker, “M'F'D. BY T. A. EDISON INC.” . 9848 beneath Edison credit on a cast iron base with painted text: “[WE]S[T]ERN UNIO[]N] TELEGRAPH CO.”

EDISON, Thomas (1847-1931). Edison Universal Stock Ticker, “M'F'D. BY T. A. EDISON INC.” . 9848 beneath Edison credit on a cast iron base with painted text: “[WE]S[T]ERN UNIO[]N] TELEGRAPH CO.”

An original Edison Universal Stock Printer: the first mechanical means for transmitting real-time stock market data from exchange floors to brokers and investors across the country. Edison’s ticker drastically altered the landscape of New York finance in the late 19th century as it received and simultaneously printed quotes for stocks, bonds, and commodities via Western Union telegraph. Edison developed his universal ticker in 1871, also for the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company (later a subsidiary of Western Union), and his most substantial improvement to Calahan’s invention was a mechanism that enabled all tickers on a line to synchronize so that they printed the same information.

Brass mechanism, cast-iron base, and glass dome, 270 x 205m (some chipping to paint on base affecting text; mechanism not tested).

Pre-Lot Text
PROPERTY OF A NEW ENGLAND COLLECTOR