Standard morse key, 1880-1950
- Made:
- 1880-1950 in United Kingdom
- supplier:
- General Post Office
- maker:
- Unknown


Standard Morse key 1222, made for the General Post Office, unknown maker, British, 1880-1950.
Morse keys were used to send telegraph messages using Morse code. It worked using a bar with a contact underneath. When the bar was depressed, the circuit was completed, and the current could flow. This type of Morse key was used by Post Office telegraph operators in Britain for many years. The rapid and repetitive action of sending messages via Morse code sometimes led to a condition called 'glass arm' or 'Telegrapher's paralysis', which we would know today as repetitive strain injury.
On display
Science Museum: Information Age Gallery: Cable
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Details
- Category:
- Telecommunications
- Object Number:
- 1970-358
- Materials:
- copper (alloy), iron, plastic (unidentified) and wood (unidentified)
- type:
- telegraph
- taxonomy:
-
- component - object
- credit:
- Donated by the Great Northern Telegraph Company Limited of Denmark
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
View manifest in IIIF viewer
Add to Animal Crossing Art Generator
Download manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.