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Publications, Illustrations

Dial Telegraph Receiver

  • Part of Wonders of electricity and the elements, being a popular account of modern electrical and magnetic discoveries, magnetism and electric machines, the electric telegraph and the electric light, and the metal bases, salt, and acids
  • 1870 – 1900

Rights

No Copyright Public Domain

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Illustration depicting the receiver component of a dial telegraph. Devised by French watchmaker Louis-François Breguet, the dial telegraph had both the appearance and working mechanism of a clock. When activated by an electric current from the sender, a spring connected by gears rotated the needle around the dial, which was divided into 26 slots. The starting position at the top, noted by a cross, left room for 25 letters and, at the end of each word, the needle would return to the starting position. Some versions, as in the case of this illustration, omitted the letter W while others omitted the letter J.

Property Value
Author
  • Ward, Lock & Co.
Place of publication
  • England--London
Format
  • Image
  • Text
Genre
  • Illustrations
  • Publications
Extent
  • 19 cm
Language
  • English
Subject
  • Communication
  • Communication and technology
  • Electric machines
  • Electricity
  • Scientific apparatus and instruments
  • Scientific illustration
  • Telecommunication
  • Telegraph
Rights Public Domain Mark 1.0
Credit line
  • Courtesy of Science History Institute

Physical location

Department
  • Library
View in library catalog

Cite as

Ward, Lock. “Dial Telegraph Receiver.” Wonders of Electricity and the Elements, Being a Popular Account of Modern Electrical and Magnetic Discoveries, Magnetism and Electric Machines, the Electric Telegraph and the Electric Light, and the Metal Bases, Salt, and Acids. London, England, 1870–1900. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/iax6r07.

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Dial Telegraph Receiver

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Rights

No Copyright Public Domain

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The Science History Institute recognizes there are materials in our collections that may be offensive or harmful, containing racist, sexist, Eurocentric, ableist, or homophobic language or depictions. The history of science is not exempt from beliefs or practices harmful to traditionally marginalized groups. The Institute is engaged in ongoing efforts to responsibly present and address the evidence of oppression and injustice inextricable from the history of science. If you would like to learn more about our ongoing efforts or if you encounter harmful, inaccurate, or insufficient descriptions, please contact us at digital@sciencehistory.org.

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