As long as there have been doors, there have been signals to alert the occupants of a guest. From the
elaborate knockers from medieval times to the antique bells found in shops after the 17th century to the
electric buzzer, they have gone through many changes over the years. Although they've become standard over
the years, there was once a time when these fascinating devices were novel luxury items.
Joseph Henry claims the title of inventor of the electric doorbell. Henry was a prolific scientist in the
19th century as well as the first Director of the Smithsonian Institution. Henry made several advances in
electricity and communications - besides inventing the doorbell, he also invented what would become the
telegraph and made large contributions to the electric motor. With so many inventions under his belt, people
often overlook the fact that he invented the electric buzzer.
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However, the harsh dissonance of the electric buzzer was hard on the nerves, acting more of a shock than a
pleasant alert. During the 1930s, companies began to manufacture musical chimes that were more soothing than an
electric buzz. Evidence suggests that Edwards and Telechime were the first companies to create the
solenoid-struck chimes, but Nutone and Rittenhouse quickly became the biggest competitors; during WWII, Nutone,
Rittnhouse and Edwards were the only companies producing doorbells. By the late 60s, however, they were no
longer novelty/luxury items and the majors were replaced by many smaller companies.
Today, there is a style to suit every personality. Owners can customize theirs to play any song they desire;
even wireless models are becoming more gaining a lot of attention. No matter how gimmicky these
innovations sound, the doorbell has become a standard in modern homes.
When it comes time to buy a new one or replace an existing one, there are two options: wired or
wireless. The price of wired bells can range from $15 to $100 dollars, depending on how fancy you want it. They
do not require batteries, which will save you money in the long run. Although many will be advertised as
"install-it-yourself", working with electricity is dangerous, and it's always a good idea to get assistance
from an electrician if you aren't familiar with electronics.
The sound will definitely be louder than a wireless because there is a direct line from the button to
the chime. As with anything wireless, connection-reliability is considerably less than a hard connection (think
of a using wireless internet compared to wired connection). Also, some wireless bell-signals have a limited
reach, meaning that the bell would need to be closer to the door than what you prefer. Wired bells also have an
average life of 10 years. However, wired door chimes include the cost of running wires throughout your
house.
The major advantages of wireless are their portability. When you have major remodeling work done on your
house, removing a wired doorbell is just an extra task that would be unnecessary with a
wireless.
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