Telegraph Key
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 is an example of a very early type of key called a strap key.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Western Union Corporation
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- brass (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 1 3/4 in x 3 1/8 in x 4 7/8 in; 4.445 cm x 7.9375 cm x 12.3825 cm
- ID Number
- EM.332296
- accession number
- 294351
- collector/donor number
- 03-48
- catalog number
- 332296
- Credit Line
- from Western Union Corporation
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Electricity
- Communications
- Telegraph Keys
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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