Working History — 1838-1839
Telegraph, four-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 the government.
This four-needle telegraph was patented by Cooke and Wheatstone. The needles moved when a current was passed through electromagnets behind them. The display only featured 20 letters of the alphabet - C, J, Q, U, X and Z are missing.
- Category:
- Working History
- Object ID:
- 2003.2/269
- Object name:
- telegraph, four-needle telegraph
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1838-1839
- Material:
wood, metal
- Measurements/duration:
- H 552 mm, W 580 mm, D 248 mm (overall), H 552 mm, W 578 mm, D 229 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
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.