Prototype "Butler In A Box"

Object Details

Mastervoice, Incorporated

Description (Brief)

This is the prototype "Butler In A Box", an electronic home controller system created in 1983 by professional magician Gus Searcy and computer programmer Franz Kavan. The idea was to couple emerging computer technology with novel wireless devices and make a product that could control a variety of electrical devices in a home. Searcy reportedly conceived the idea after friends asked him why, if he could pull rabbits from hats, couldn’t he just tell lights to come on instead of physically operating a switch. Soon thereafter, Searcy and Kavan developed “Sidney,” an electronic controller to do that and more.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

from Gus Searcy

1985-04

ID Number

1991.0079.03

catalog number

1991.0079.03

accession number

1991.0079

Object Name

answering machine component

electronic home controller

Physical Description

plastic (overall material)

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 3.5 cm x 19 cm x 25 cm; 1 3/8 in x 7 1/2 in x 9 13/16 in

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Work and Industry: Electricity

Magnetic Recording

Communications

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_1346931

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-a6d0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa