Carpathia Switch Lever

Description
This switch lever was part of RMS Carpathia's wireless radio apparatus; most likely it was a manual breaker for the antenna connection to the radio. It would have been opened in storms to prevent lightning from striking the radio itself. It was damaged during the rescue of Titanic's passengers, and the next time the ship was in Boston, Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company employee Harry Cheetham went aboard Carpathia to service the wireless. At the time, shipboard radios belonged to the radio company, not the shipping lines.
Object Name
radio switch
switch
date made
1911
maker
Marconi
Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd.
Measurements
overall: 10 in x 5/8 in x 3/16 in; 25.4 cm x 1.5875 cm x .47625 cm
ID Number
EM*309910
catalog number
309910
accession number
110988
subject
Transportation
Communications
Titanic
See more items in
Work and Industry: Electricity
Titanic
Data Source
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Credit Line
from Harry R. Chetham
Additional Media

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