Telegraph Key
date: label: date made
content: ca 1918
name: label: maker
content: J. H. Bunnell & Co.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: 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 moved the lever on this so-called "double speed key" from side to side to make signals. This key has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Hand telegraph key with control knob arranged on a spring for side-ways motion. Contact points are on either side of key bar. A line switch is included on the base. Maker claims operators of this style key will not be affected by cramp. Reference: J. H. Bunnell & Co. Catalog, 1918, page 4.
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 Franklin Wingard
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.320857
label: catalog number
content: 320857
label: accession number
content: 241556
objectType: label: Object Name
content: telegraph key
label: Other Terms
content: telegraph key; Radio
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/4 in x 2 1/4 in x 5 in; 3.175 cm x 5.715 cm x 12.7 cm