Specimen of telegraph cable laid in Birmingham in 1856
- Made:
- 1856 in United Kingdom
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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Specimen of early telegraph cables laid in Birmingham in 1856, unearthed in 1898, unknown maker, British, 1856. 12 gutta-percha covered copper wires, each wire being around 1.67mm in diameter, making it most likely a No. 16 gauge wire of the period. The gutta-percha covering makes each wire 5.6mm in diameter
This cable sample was taken from a telegraph cable laid in Birmingham in 1856 and unearthed in 1898. It consists of 12 copper wires, insulated with gutta percha, which is a rubber-like substance with good insulating properties.
Details
- Category:
- Telecommunications
- Object Number:
- 1923-279
- Materials:
- copper (metal) and gutta-percha
- Measurements:
-
overall: 190 mm, 23 mm, .09 kg
- type:
- cable
- credit:
- Donated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
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