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 made by the L. S. Brach Co., Newark, N.J., around the time of the First World War. The only Brach sounder in the collection, this unit has the electromagnets mounted horizontally instead of the more common vertical orientation. We do not know if this was simply a design feature or if the company believed the sounder worked better with the electromagnets in that configuration.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1915
- maker
- L. S. Brach Manufacturing Co.
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- brass (overall material)
- rubber (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 3 5/8 in x 2 3/4 in x 5 3/8 in; 9.2075 cm x 6.985 cm x 13.6525 cm
- ID Number
- EM.332359
- collector/donor number
- 06-11
- accession number
- 294351
- catalog number
- 332359
- Credit Line
- from Western Union Corporation
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Electricity
- Communications
- Telegraph Sounders
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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