Telegraph Key
date: label: date made
content: 1922
name: label: maker
content: Clapp-Eastham Co.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. This wireless telegraph key features a large disc on the knob to protect against the accidental shock. Until recently “wireless” meant radio, and early wireless equipment often used high voltages.
label: Description (Brief)
content: A standard wireless telegraph key. Stamped on base: "Boston Key Clapp-Eastham Co." and on lever: " Clapp-Eastham Co". All metal parts are of nickel-plated brass except for the steel pin that forms the central bearing. Mounted on an engraved formica base. Current is carried through the heavy conductors directly to the binding posts. Current rating of this unit is unknown, but Boston Keys were manufactured in ratings of 10, 20, 30, and 50 amperes. Reference: Clapp-Eastham bulletin FZ-1922, page 27.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
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content: Telegraph Keys
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content: Communications
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Franklin Wingard
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.320854
label: catalog number
content: 320854
label: accession number
content: 241556
objectType: label: Object Name
content: telegraph key
label: Object Name
content: semi-automatic key
label: Object Name
content: sending key
label: Other Terms
content: telegraph key; Radio
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 3/4 in x 3 1/2 in x 8 in; 4.445 cm x 8.89 cm x 20.32 cm