2014

THE RUGBY COIL AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM
December 2004 saw BT donating the Rugby Coil (Aerial Tuning Inductor ATI) from the GBR transmitter to the Science Museum. After being carefully dismantled the Rugby Coil was taken to the Science Museum’s Large Object Store at Wroughton, near Swindon.

In 2011 John Liffen, Curator of Communications and Electricity Supply at the Science Museum, suggested using the Rugby Coil as part of a display in a brand new gallery. This gallery, which was called The Information Age was opened by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on Friday 24th October 2014. It was at the opening ceremony that The Queen sent Her, much publicised, very first ‘Tweet’. The Rugby Coil is proudly positioned centre stage in this fascinating gallery designed to highlight the mechanisms of communication through the ages and the vital role they’ve played in all of our lives.

If you visit the London Science Museum you’ll see the Rugby Coil for yourself. And whilst you’re there, be sure to look out for part of the original 1927 Rugby transatlantic telephone transmitter which is also on display there.

Click here to see a video of the coil at The London Science Museum.