Telegraph Sounder

Description (Brief):

Telegraph sounders convert electrical pulses into audible sounds and are used to receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Short pulses make a dot, slightly longer pulses make a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. The pulses energize the sounder’s electromagnets which move a lever-arm. The arm makes a loud “click” when it strikes a crossbar and the operator translates the pattern of sounds into the original language. This sounder was used by electrical inventor Moses Farmer in the course of his experiments.

Date Made: ca 1880

Maker: Charles Williams, Jr.

Location: Currently not on view

General Subject Association: Telegraph

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Electricity, Communications, Telegraph Sounders

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: from Sarah J. Farmer

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: EM.181945Catalog Number: 181945Accession Number: 2015.0173

Object Name: telegraph receivertelegraph sounder

Physical Description: wood (overall material)brass (overall material)rubber (overall material)Measurements: overall: 4 1/2 in x 3 in x 5 in; 11.43 cm x 7.62 cm x 12.7 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-3933-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_706896

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