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The restored 1949 Bendix television set on display in the Tap.Talk.Text exhibition.
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In 1947, the owner of a Highlandtown radio repair shop, John Moscato, purchased a build-it-yourself television kit and became a local celebrity as the first television owner in Baltimore. Crowds would gather on the sidewalk in front of his shop to watch boxing matches on the seven-inch screen as Moscato adjusted knobs to get the best picture quality and his brother-in-law moved the antenna around on the roof.
The following year, Baltimore-based Bendix, which had telecommunications success with radios, introduced its first television, a 12" screen encased in a mahogany tabletop with doors and optional legs. It retailed for about $400 ($4,300 today), at a time when the minimum wage was $0.40. With most television sets spanning just seven or ten inches, Bendix Radio's model was among the largest commercial sets. It had push button tuning, which was preferred for channel flipping, as opposed to turning a rotating knob. All things considered, it was one of the first high-quality television sets to hit the market before the Golden Age of television began in the 1950s.
On March 21, take a deeper dive into Maryland's broadcasting history with our free public program, The Broadcasting Business: Then & Now. Broadcasting professionals will discuss the public's relationship with information and digital technology in the era of "fake news." The evening will kick off with the official opening of Tap.Talk.Text, the BMI's newly renovated communications gallery. One of the installations on display in the gallery highlights a restored Bendix television donated by the family of Stanley H. Thomas, a longtime Bendix employee. The exhibit also features interactive displays and objects--such as signaling flags, telegraphs, and antique telephones--used for relaying information over the years.
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Do you #TapTalkText?
Join us on Thursday, March 21 from 7 PM - 8:30 PM for the Tap.Talk.Text Communications Gallery opening and The Broadcasting Business: Then & Now public program.
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Last Chance to See WHY WE WORK
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Photographer Christopher Myers in the WHY WE WORK exhibit.
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Work is a universal experience that connects us to each other. Since May of last year, the WHY WE WORK exhibition has created a space for BMI visitors to explore their relationship with and feelings towards work through the
creation of a visual narrative about contemporary labor. WHY WE WORK's portrait wall features 32 contemporary and historic portraits of people in various workplaces, from factory assembly lines and medical labs to farms and cocktail bars.
Local photographer Christopher Myers was tapped to identify and provide the contemporary photographs of Baltimoreans. The project provided the unique opportunity for him to revisit his work from the last decade using the lens of "work" to determine which photos fit the exhibition's theme.
"It was neat to see how much of my work actually pertained to the needs of the exhibition," said Myers. "I enjoy photographing workers in action because it's a much more unique experience since they
aren't used to being photographed. They're not sure what they're going to do and sometimes neither am I so it's surprising and fun collaborating with people who really want to hop into the process."
A partnership between students from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and Maryland Institute College of Art, the exhibition took the guest curators on their own journey of what work is like today.
"I think the biggest takeaway from this opportunity was a better understanding of the labor that goes into developing an exhibition and the collaborative nature of this work since no one person could have pulled off something as impactful and as exciting as this," said Emily Margolis, a JHU student who participated in the Museum Lab course that organized the exhibtion from start to finish.
Experience this interactive exhibition through April 14, 2019.
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What is it like to work today?
The WHY WE WORK exhibition invites you to explore your relationship with work. Share your experience before the exhibition leaves the BMI in mid-April.
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The Membership that Keeps on Giving
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| BMI members during the membership tour at Domino Sugar. |
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Have you ever explored a 100-year-old industrial building or toured local television stations and manufacturing plants? With a BMI membership, you can do just that!
Enjoying behind-the-scenes tours at local factories and businesses throughout Maryland is one of the most impactful perks of a BMI membership. Thomas Mullins and his wife are longtime patrons of the museum, and two years ago they became members. Having the opportunity to connect in small ways to Baltimore's industrial past and present has been their favorite part of being BMI members.
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BMI member Thomas Mullins. |
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The advantages of our museum membership are numerous including reduced admission to BMI events and access to tours of local industries--such as Domino Sugar, W.R. Grace Chemicals,
Holmatro
Rescue Equipment, and DAP adhesives company," said Thomas. "BMI member tours allow us to relate to some of the products that we use personally, see the faces of the workers who produce them, and say hello."
Thanks to a reciprocal program that allows members to enjoy discounts at other cultural institutions, the benefits of a BMI membership reach well beyond the museum. During the months of September and October, BMI members can enjoy free admission to the Maryland Zoo. Also, throughout the year, individuals and families at the Anchor level or higher receive free admission to participating museums across the country, ranging from the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C., to the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington.
The BMI is dedicated to providing museum members with benefits that expose them to unique experiences and inside looks into the industries that continue to thrive in Baltimore today.
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Join the Industrial Evolution in 2019!
The museum's success each year is, and will always be, a community effort. Click the link to learn how you can get more involved with the BMI this year.
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Upcoming Programs at the BMI
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Engineering Industry: Safety Day
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Learn about safety from the Baltimore City Fire Department during the Maryland Engineering Challenge "Safe Racer" competition for elementary school students.
WHEN
Sat, March 9 | 11 AM - 12:30 PM
COST
Free
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The Broadcasting Business: Then & Now |
Broadcasting professionals will discuss how they keep up-to-date on the public's relationship with information, industry standards, and digital technology in the era of "fake news."
WHEN
Thurs, March 21 | 7 PM - 8:30 PM
COST
FREE
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"Cork Wars: Intrigue and Industry in WWII"
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Author David A. Taylor will discuss his new book from Johns Hopkins University Press, which traces the story of Baltimore's cork industry during World War II through the lives of three men.
WHEN
Wed, March 27 | 7 PM - 8:30 PM
COST
Free
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Workin' It: Stories about Making a Living In Baltimore
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Workin' It: Stories about Making a Living in Baltimore returns May 16!
Join the Stoop Storytelling Series and the BMI for an evening of true, personal tales exploring the past, present, and future of work in our city. We're seeking storytellers! Details on how to submit your story can be found here:
bit.ly/BMIWorkinIt
WHEN Thurs, May 16 | 7 PM - 10 PM
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Wee Workers
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Preschoolers will love this program just for them. Explore the museum's galleries through stories, songs, crafts, and pint-size tours with a weekly theme.
WHEN Tuesdays | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
COST Kids: Free; Adults: $5; BMI Members: Free. Advance registration suggested, contact kedelmann@thebmi.org or 410.727.4808 x132
UPCOMING THEMES
MAR 12: The Pharmacy |
MAR 19:
Planes
MAR 26: Safety Signs
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Weekend Workers
| It's all about fun as you discover how things work. These engaging activities allow children of all ages to investigate the world around them.
WHEN Saturdays | 11 AM-2 PM unless noted
COST Free with museum admission
UPCOMING THEMES
MAR 9
: Paper Rockets (10AM - 1 PM)
MAR
16: Chesapeake Bay 101
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: Book Making
MAR 30: Craft Cars
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