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Hello, Montréal! Bell's Historical Collections - Talking About the Evolution of Communications through Telephony!An exhibition presented from February 17, 2017 to January 7, 2018 MONTRÉAL, Feb. 16, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, in collaboration with Bell, is proud to present Hello, Montréal! Bell's Historical Collections, a lighthearted and entertaining exhibition that looks at the evolution of communications through the advances in telephony and the role telephony plays in our lives. The exhibition follows the development of this amazing device from its invention by Alexander Graham Bell in 1874 up to the digital communications revolution of today. Pointe-à-Callière drew on Bell's rich private collections to create a fun-filled historical, technological and sociological portrait of telephony and its influence on how people – including Montréalers, of course – talk with each other and the whole world. The exhibition features over 250 items, photos, documents, musical excerpts and archival films to tell the fascinating story of this invention. "For Montréal's 375th anniversary, we decided to unveil an exhibition looking at the development of telephony over more than 140 years, from a Montréal viewpoint. Technological innovations have shaped the way we communicate and contributed to our city's growth. Pointe-à-Callière is proud to retrace the development of telephony in such striking fashion, and we thank Bell most sincerely for making it possible with access to its invaluable private collection," says Francine Lelièvre, Executive Director of Pointe-à-Callière. "Bell is delighted to partner with Pointe-à-Callière to celebrate Montréal 375 by showing how a company founded in this city in 1880 helped shape the landscape of modern communications all around the world," said Martine Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Québec. "Charting the course of communications in Montréal from the first telegraph devices to the incredibly powerful mobile and broadband fibre networks of today, Pointe-à-Callière has created a compelling and highly entertaining examination of the heritage of our city and our company, and the continued opportunities for innovation nd growth ahead." 140 years of progress The exhibition themes will examine the development of communications networks, mobile telephony and its influence on today's lifestyles, and the future of communications. Visitors will have fun seeing all this historyand they will also be encouraged to think about their own use of the telephone and its central role in their lives as they learn about how technological advances in telephony over the decades have changed the way we communicate. Intriguing objects Exhibition highlights also include the first telephone switchboard used by the city of Montréal's fire department, from 1884 to 1908;aA magneto telephone used at the Montreal Hunt Club, around 1880, and the first outdoor telephone booth, which appeared in 1944; the huge battery switchboard produced by the Northern Electric and Manufacturing Company in Montréal in the early 1900s, of striking size and complexity; and the Motorola DynaTAC series telephone, which appeared around 1985. The heavy and rather impractical first generation portable cell phone is a far cry from the modern, light and ultra-powerful devices we know today . Fun things to do, too Telephones in popular culture A timeless machine Acknowledgments Pointe-à-Callière is subsidized by the City of Montréal.
SOURCE Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal Museum of Archaelogy and History |