Telegraph Key
Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key is referred to as a camelback due to the curved design of the lever.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- from Western Union Corporation
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- date made
- ca 1865
- ID Number
- EM.331249
- accession number
- 294351
- collector/donor number
- 100-824
- catalog number
- 331249
- maker
- L. G. Tillotson & Co.
- Object Name
- key
- telegraph key
- Physical Description
- brass (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 1 3/4 in x 2 3/4 in x 5 3/4 in; 4.445 cm x 6.985 cm x 14.605 cm
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Electricity
- Telegraph Keys
- Communications
- Record ID
- nmah_890660
