Telegraph Key

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 has a switch on the side to select which side of a battery to connect to a line, the positive or negative terminal, and is called a pole-changing key.

Date Made: ca 1890

Maker: Spies Electric Works

Location: Currently not on view

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

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: from Western Union Corporation

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: EM.331428Maker Number: 1-BCollector/Donor Number: 100-825Accession Number: 294351Catalog Number: 331428

Object Name: keypolechanger keytelegraph key

Physical Description: brass (overall material)plastic (overall material)Measurements: overall: 2 in x 3 1/2 in x 6 in; 5.08 cm x 8.89 cm x 15.24 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-1c76-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_890775

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