overall: 1 1/2 in x 2 3/4 in x 5 in; 3.81 cm x 6.985 cm x 12.7 cm
Object Name:
key
telegraph key
Date made:
ca 1880
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 received disassembled and has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use.
