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.

Date Made: 1911

Maker: MarconiMarconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Electricity, Communications, Transportation, Titanic

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: from Harry R. Chetham

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: EM.309910Catalog Number: 309910Accession Number: 110988

Object Name: radio switchswitch

Measurements: overall: 10 in x 5/8 in x 3/16 in; 25.4 cm x 1.5875 cm x .47625 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-6742-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1335804

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