Submarine cable laid across the River Medina, Isle of Wight, 1878

Made:
1878 in United Kingdom
Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina

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Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina, Isle of Wight, circa.1878, recovered 1977. Believed used in A.G. Bell's telephone experiment between Cowes and Osborne House.

Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina, Isle of Wight, circa 1878, recovered 1977. Believed used in A G Bell's telephone experiment between Cowes and Osborne House.

This cable is possibly one of the first examples of submerged telephone cables, and is believed to have formed part of a telephone link laid in January 1878 on the Isle of Wight across the River Medina between Cowes, Osborne House and Osborne Cottage. It was used by Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) to demonstrate his newly-invented telephone to Queen Victoria (1819-1901). Unfortunately the line from Cowes failed at the crucial moment but calls were successfully made between the Cottage and Osborne House.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
2004-102
Materials:
metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Measurements:
overall (Cable): 600 mm x 40 mm, 2.48kg
type:
cable
credit:
Donated by BT Heritage and Archives

Parts

Submarine cable laid across the River Medina, 1878

Submarine cable laid across the River Medina, 1878

Submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina, Isle of Wight, 1878, recovered 1977. Believed used in A.G. Bell's telephone experiment between Cowes and Osborne House.

Measurements:
overall: 600 mm x 40 mm diameter, 2.48 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2004-102/1
type:
cable
Wooden base for submarine cable laid across the River Medina, 1878

Wooden base for submarine cable laid across the River Medina, 1878

Wooden base for submarine telegraph cable laid across the River Medina, Isle of Wight, 1878, recovered 1977. Believed used in A.G. Bell's telephone experiment between Cowes and Osborne House.

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
2004-102/2
type:
base