Portion of first gutta percha insulated wire laid in London, 1848-1849

Made:
1848-1849 in London
Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Portion of first gutta-percha insulated wire laid in London, with part of display baseboard and metal plate, unknown maker, London, 1848-1849.

This sample of gutta-percha insulated cable dates from around 1848-1849. It was possibly the cable laid by the Electric Telegraph Company between its Lothbury headquarters and Shoreditch (probably the railway station), a distance of approximately one mile. Though it was a good insulator, gutta percha tended to disintegrate after a few years in harsh city environments.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1923-243
Materials:
glass, steel (metal) and gutta-percha
Measurements:
cable: 217 mm 24 mm, .19 kg
plate: 29 mm x 115 mm .04 kg
type:
cable
credit:
Institution of Electrical Engineers

Parts

Portion of first gutta percha insulated wire laid in London, 1848-1849

Portion of first gutta percha insulated wire laid in London, 1848-1849

Measurements:
overall: 217 mm x 24 mm diameter, .19 kg
Materials:
glass , steel (metal) and gutta-percha
Object Number:
1923-243 Pt1
type:
cable