Semi-automatic Telegraph Key
name: label: maker
content: Mecograph Company
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic telegraph key like this one allows an operator to send land-line and wireless (radio) telegraph messages at a much faster rate than with an ordinary key. The key automatically produces rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator still makes the dashes manually. This later Mecograph semi-automatic telegraph key shows a traditional straight-arm design rather than the company's signature right-angle design.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
label: See more items in
content: Telegraph Keys
label: See more items in
content: Communications
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Western Union Corporation
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.331902
label: accession number
content: 294351
label: catalog number
content: 331902
objectType: label: Object Name
content: bug
label: Object Name
content: semi-automatic key
label: Object Name
content: telegraph key
label: Object Name
content: sending key
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: cloth (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2 1/2 in x 3 in x 8 1/4 in; 6.35 cm x 7.62 cm x 20.955 cm