The last time I attended a Franklin Institute “Science After Hours” event was 2020; with a 1920s theme. From science facts about alcohol to a jazz band parading down the marble staircase with 100+ people in tow, it was certainly awesome. Little did we know that only a couple weeks after that event, things would get very different. Fast forward to last week, I finally got back for another science after hours: Flannel and Frost!
Continue reading “Franklin Institute Science After Hours “Flannel and Frost””Franklin Institute 1874 Exhibition Stereograph – I got one!
I previously talked about the 1874 Franklin Institute Exhibition in a couple of past posts like this one, which had some links to various stereographs; a primitive way to present 3d-like images, similar to the VR goggles we use today with cell phones. (Makes me wonder if there’s an app to view these old pics). Anyway, I’m pleased to share one I actually found myself!
Continue reading “Franklin Institute 1874 Exhibition Stereograph – I got one!”More Frankin Institute Cards
Got in a few more Franklin Institute cards today. These appear to be from the 60s. I found these interesting as you contrast what the place looks like today.
Franklin Institute W3TKQ Station – 1990s to 2002
As I mentioned in a previous post, a lot of my Franklin Institute… obsession?…is related to what used to be called the “Futures Center”; a massive addition to the Franklin Institute in the early 1990s that not only added on a large portion of the building, but filled it with all things modern, like computers, virtual reality, automation, space, and so on.
Continue reading “Franklin Institute W3TKQ Station – 1990s to 2002”Franklin Institute W3TKQ Amateur Radio Station Updated in 1962 (With Sound!!)
You may recall a previous post HERE where I show an original QST card from the original W3TKQ ham radio station, located in the Franklin Institute in 1958.
Well as all things go with technology, the station needed an update after a few years, and in May 1962, Dr. Wynn Laurence LePage, W3QCV, then president of the Franklin Institute, introduced a new, updated W3TKQ station…
Continue reading “Franklin Institute W3TKQ Amateur Radio Station Updated in 1962 (With Sound!!)”Franklin Institute – Flyer from 1930s?
Here’s another piece of Franklin Institute ephemera, likely from the late 1930s. One interesting aspect of this, is that its printed on waxed paper (like a magazine), which surprises me considering the age. A lot of this stuff likely got printed in FI’s own functional print shop, which I believe used to be housed behind glass walls (for public display) in the basement level (now office space). It was only natural for them to have a print shop, as Ben Franklin himself worked in a print shop for quite a while in his lifetime.
Continue reading “Franklin Institute – Flyer from 1930s?”Franklin Institute – Fire Island Lighthouse Light Postcard (1936)
After reviewing my FI stuff on here, not only did I find I goofed a bit on the tags and categories, but I found I didn’t even scan/post all of my FI stuff yet! That said, with my new-found time, let’s get to correcting that!
Show below is a postcard, postmarked in 1936 (when the current Franklin Institute building opened), showing a lighthouse light (originally from Fire Island Lighthouse in NY), that was taken out of service in 1933, and placed on display in the Franklin Institute likely from when the building opened, to around 2000, when the actual light was taken down and placed in storage.
Continue reading “Franklin Institute – Fire Island Lighthouse Light Postcard (1936)”Franklin Institute – 1960s and 1970s
Yet more Franklin Institute postcards! This cool collection came in a few days ago and must have all been purchased at once, as they show what looks to be all from a particular period and all have a similar format. I’m guessing these are from around the 60s to 70s, likely leaning towards the mid to late 60s. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Franklin Institute – 1960s and 1970s”Early Franklin Institute Memorabilia – Taylor and Smith 1874
Being a serial/multiple hobbyist means I often have to weigh how much I want to invest into a particular hobby, and for my “collection” hobbies, this can come with a cost of “missed opportunity” per se. Although I would have REALLY liked to have it, I decided not to bid, and missed out on an extremely early piece of Franklin Institute memorabilia last weekend.
Continue reading “Early Franklin Institute Memorabilia – Taylor and Smith 1874”Franklin Institute Medal – from 1824?
So while the current Franklin Institute building was built in the 1930’s, most people wouldn’t believe that the institute itself was actually founded nearly 200 years ago in 1824. I managed to acquire this interesting medal that includes FI’s original tagline of “To Promote the Mechanical Arts”.
I actually reached out to FI on this one in case anyone there knows what it really dates to. I have my doubts it’s actually from 1824, but the wear on it has me second guessing myself now. I’m guessing it was a souvenir from around the 30s to 50s but it would be really cool if it really dated back that far!
It’s hard to tell from the photos since I zoomed in, but the actual piece is about the size of a US Quarter. If anyone knows anything about this, please feel free to let me know in the comments (if you don’t see the comments below, click the title of the article to open the actual article first).
Anyway…enjoy what could possibly be the oldest piece of Franklin Institute ephemera yet…
