Submarine Cable Morse Telegraph Key
Maker and role
Muirhead & Co Ltd, Manufacturer
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Object detail
Accession number
1978.1883
Maker
Description
Double morse key made up of 2 morse keys arranged in parallel on a solid metal base, for use with submarine telegraph cables.
Brief History
Morse code uses groups of dots and dashes to represent the alphabet, and in telegraphy these are transmitted by electrical impulses over a wire or cable. Telegraph operators generate these impulses using morse keys, such as this duplex morse key. On this example, one key was for dots and the other for dashes. Each key sent an electric impulse of opposite polarity, necessary because of the electrical characteristics of the cable.
Duplex morse keys were used for sending messages on submarine telegraph cables, whereas single keys were generally used for land and radio telegraphy. Submarine cables had used duplex technology, which allowed a message to be sent in either direction at the same time, since the 1870s. The first undersea cable in Aotearoa New Zealand, connecting the North and South Islands, was laid in 1866.
Duplex morse keys were used for sending messages on submarine telegraph cables, whereas single keys were generally used for land and radio telegraphy. Submarine cables had used duplex technology, which allowed a message to be sent in either direction at the same time, since the 1870s. The first undersea cable in Aotearoa New Zealand, connecting the North and South Islands, was laid in 1866.
Marks
Muirhead & Co. Ltd. 5...5 Inscribed
Media/Materials
Other name
Morse Key
Credit Line
Muirhead & Co Ltd. Submarine Cable Morse Telegraph Key, 1978.1883. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Public comments
Kia ora Maurie. Thank you for offering this information, we will include it in the record.
- MOTAT Curatorial Research posted 5 months ago.
This a telegraph key for use on undersea cables. Using morse code, one key was for dots and the other for dashes. Each key sent an electric impulse of opposite polasrity. This was necessary because of the electrical characteristics of the cable.
- Maurie Challinor posted 6 months ago.