Working History — C. 1851
Telegraph, double-needle telegraph
The electric telegraph was patented by William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone in 1837. Early telegraphic instruments were developed for use on London's new railway network. Telegraph wires ran alongside the railway tracks between stations. The use of telegraphy by the railway companies prompted wider interest from other businesses and government.
Prince Albert took a keen interest in new scientific and technological developments. He was probably responsible for the introduction of the electric telegraph at Buckingham Palace, no doubt inspired by the demonstrations he had witnessed at the Great Exhibition in 1851. This double-needle telegraph was used in Buckingham Palace at around that time.
Later on the morning of her Diamond Jubilee on 22 June 1897, Queen Victoria sent a message from the telegraph room at Buckingham Palace to all parts of the British Empire which ended 'From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them'.
- Category:
- Working History
- Object ID:
- 2003.2/267
- Object name:
- telegraph, double-needle telegraph
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- Related places:
- —
- Production date:
- c. 1851
- Material:
- wood, metal
- Measurements/duration:
- H 799 mm, W 570 mm, D 328 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- BT Connected Earth
- Copyright holder:
- BT
- Image credit:
- © BT Heritage
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.