Specimen of telegraph cable laid in Birmingham in 1856

Made:
1856 in United Kingdom
Specimen of early telegraph cables laid in Birmingham in 1856 Specimen of early telegraph cables laid in Birmingham in 1856

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Specimen of early telegraph cables laid in Birmingham in 1856
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Specimen of early telegraph cables laid in Birmingham in 1856
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

Specimen of early telegraph cables laid in Birmingham in 1856, unearthed in 1898, unknown maker, British, 1856.

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