The original device, consisting of an electromagnet arranged to ring a bell, was demonstrated in 1831 by Joseph Henry to his classes at the Albany Academy in Albany, N. Y. By closing a circuit, Henry energized the electromagnet with current from a battery. The magnet attracted a lever arm that rang the bell. This demonstrated electrical action at a distance and laid the foundation for later telegraph devices. This replica was made for the Western Union Museum.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.