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Catalog Data

Maker:
Vail, Alfred  Search this
Physical Description:
brass (overall material)
ivory (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements:
on mount: 3 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 8 in; 8.89 cm x 11.43 cm x 20.32 cm
Object Name:
telegraph key
Date made:
1845
Description (Brief):
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key was an early refinement on Alfred Vail's original lever key.
Location:
Currently not on view
Credit Line:
from Western Union Telegraph Co.
ID Number:
EM.181412
Catalog number:
181412
Accession number:
31652
See more items in:
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Keys
Communications
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-2403-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_706535