



Wheatstone receiver (Morse inker), unknown maker, probably British, 1867.
The Morse inker was invented by an Austrian, Thomas John in 1854. A rotating ink wheel was lifted when a current was received, marking a strip of paper. The mechanism was driven by a falling weight. They were used widely across Europe, with the most popular inkers being made by the German firm Siemens and Halske, while in the United States, embossers remained more common. This inker was part of Charles Wheatstone's automatic telegraph system.
On display
Science Museum: Information Age Gallery: Cable
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Details
- Category:
- Telecommunications
- Object Number:
- 1964-84
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, metal (unknown), paper (fibre product), steel (metal) and wood (unidentified)
- type:
- telegraph
- taxonomy:
-
- component - object
- credit:
- Donated by the National Postal Museun
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