Single needle telegraph, 1846
- maker:
- Electric Telegraph Company and William Reid
Single needle telegraph, made by William Reid for the Electric Telegraph Company, London, England, 1846.
This was one of the earliest single needle telegraphs made for the Electric Telegraph Company in 1846. Until 1845, the commercial installations of William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone's patents had been under Cooke's management, with him as the contractor who carried out the work. The installation of an electric telegraph system between London and Dover was seen as a convenient time to form a company to carry out the work, and thus the Electric Telegraph Company was formally registered. The single-needle telegraph, with earth return, was economical in line wire but many operators preferred the double-needle telegraph, claiming it to be faster and easier to send and receive. The code marked on the dial was invented by Cooke.
Details
- Category:
- Telecommunications
- Object Number:
- 1949-323
- Materials:
- oak (wood), mahogany (wood), glass and metal (unknown)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 450 mm x 315 mm x 190 mm, 5.71 kg
- type:
- telegraph
- copyright:
- Unlinked Name
- credit:
- Lent by King's College London