What Battery did Marty Cooper use in 1973?

[Cool4Kat]

Hello, lovely people. I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of battery Marty Cooper used for the very first cell (mobile) phone call in 1973? I know that by the 80s they were using Nickel-Cadmium batteries but I don't know about that first one.

Thanks in advance,

Kathy

 

[RonL]

Hello, lovely people. I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of battery Marty Cooper used for the very first cell (mobile) phone call in 1973? I know that by the 80s they were using Nickel-Cadmium batteries but I don't know about that first one.

Thanks in advance,

Kathy

I would almost bet good money that it was a lead acid made by Harker batteries

 

[anorlunda]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel–cadmium_battery

That article says that NiCad batteries have been produced commercially in the USA since 1946.

But I'll second @RonL 's bet.

 

[Cool4Kat]

I read an article that said that they were produced since 1946 (in a Scientific American from 1948) however, Marty Cooper complained that his battery weighed 1 pound. 10 years later, the whole system weighed 1 pound so his battery must have gotten significantly smaller. Thanks

 

[RonL]

Well I tried to google Harker batteries and it seems the best google can do is give a batteries plus in Harker Hights, Tx. A big surprise for me.

 

[anorlunda]

Martin Cooper is still alive. You should try to contact him to ask your question.

 

[tech99]

Hello, lovely people. I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of battery Marty Cooper used for the very first cell (mobile) phone call in 1973? I know that by the 80s they were using Nickel-Cadmium batteries but I don't know about that first one.

Thanks in advance,

Kathy

May not have been rechargeable. They did not become popular until later.

 

[RonL]

Almost 24 hours later I finally find some information, (I would have lost my bet I think ) after at least 15 years in my shop (unmolested) I had to find one of my batteries and I'm still not sure if a history goes back into the 70's ? The following link seems to be the batteries I have.

http://www.enersys-emea.com/reserve/pdf/EN-CYC-AM-007_1208.pdf

To my surprise it looks as if the single cell is still good and will take/hold a charge.
Not that this post will mean much to most people, but to me it means lead acid batteries have value that most have been taught no longer exist ?