Three telegraph sounders and sounder-screens, 1850-1950

Made:
1850-1950 in unknown place
Telegraph sounder and sounder-screen, unknown maker, 1850-1950 Telegraph sounder and sounder-screen, unknown maker, 1850-1950 Three telegraph sounders and sounder-screens, unknown maker Three telegraph sounders and sounder-screens, unknown maker

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Telegraph sounder and sounder-screen, unknown maker, 1850-1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Telegraph sounder and sounder-screen, unknown maker, 1850-1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Three telegraph sounders and sounder-screens, unknown maker
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Three telegraph sounders and sounder-screens, unknown maker
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Three telegraph sounders and sounder-screens, unknown maker, 1850-1950.

Morse code was the standard code for communicating by telegraph. The code uses a series of short and long connections in the electric current, usually called 'dots' and 'dashes'. These dots and dashes could then be decoded to reveal the message being transmitted. A telegraph sounder comprises a spring-loaded metal arm, pivoted near the middle. At one end is an electromagnet and at the other, an anvil. When a current passes, the electromagnet pulls the arm down, making a loud 'clunk'. When the current ceases the arm springs back against the anvil with another clunk. A dash is about three times as long as a dot, so the time interval between clunks indicates the dot or dash. The arrangement freed the operator to write down the message as it was being received. The default status for sounders was 'on', so that operators always knew it was working, and could easily identify if there was a fault in the wire. The sounder screens were used to project the sounds towards the operator, which was particularly useful in noisy offices.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1976-378
Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) and wood (unidentified)
Measurements:
overall (smaller screen): 310 mm x 105 mm x 150 mm, 2.46 kg
overall (larger screens): 435 mm x 275 mm x 175 mm, 3.23 kg
type:
telegraph
credit:
Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Ltd.

Parts

Two telegraph sounders and two sounder-screens, 1850-1950

Two telegraph sounders and two sounder-screens, 1850-1950

Two telegraph sounders and two sounder-screens, unknown maker, 1850-1950. One large screen in reddish wood with a short metal base. One small screen in dark brown wood with a tall metal base.

Materials:
wood (unidentified) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
1976-378/2
type:
telegraph