Repeater for Farmer duplex telegraph

Repeater for Farmer duplex telegraph

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Description
Telegraph repeaters amplified electrical signals in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages traveled as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver. Short pulses made a dot, slightly longer pulses a dash. The pulses faded in strength as they traveled through the wire, limiting the distance a message could travel. Repeaters remedied that problem by detecting a weak signal and using a local power source to re-energize and re-transmit the signal down the line.
This repeater was made by Charles Williams, Jr. of Boston and used in experiments by Moses Farmer. Our records indicate that this repeater was used as evidence in suit against Western Union Telegraph Company by Farmer.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
telegraph repeater
telegraph relay
date made
ca 1878
maker
Charles Williams, Jr.
Physical Description
brass (overall material)
wood (overall material)
steel (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 4 1/2 in x 9 3/4 in x 6 7/8 in; 11.43 cm x 24.765 cm x 17.4625 cm
ID Number
EM.181954
catalog number
181954
accession number
2015.0173
Credit Line
from Sarah J. Farmer
See more items in
Work and Industry: Electricity
Telegraph Relays & Repeaters
Communications
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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