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. According to a Western Union tag, this sounder was used on the Chicago, Kansas and Western Railroad. W. T. Baker of Western Union's New York repair shop sent the sounder to the company museum in 1937.
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