Siemens and Halske's ABC telegraph used in Russia, made by Siemens and Halske, probably Berlin, Gernany, 1850-1897

This ABC telegraph was built by Siemens and Halske, who were licensed by Charles Wheatstone in 1850 to make ABC telegraph equipment. It was based on a patent granted to E W Siemens in 1850, which outlines the 'Improvements to Electric Telegraphs' made by him, including the use of hollow iron tubes rather than solid bars to increase the strength of the magnet. The receiving dial is in the centre, with 30 keys marked with Russian characters, each of which controls a pin above a contact to close the circuit when pressed. Similar instruments were supplied to Russia for use during the Crimean War.