Summary

Telegraph sounder used for the reception of telegraph messages transmitted by Morse code.

Telegraph signals were transmitted by an operator who depressd a key to complete an electric circuit and transmit current along the telegraph line. Releasing the key broke the circuit and cut off the current. Letters and numbers were represented by a sequence of short current pulses ('dots') and long current pulses ('dashes'), transmitted according to a defined code. The most widely used code was generally known as "Morse code".

At the receiving end of the telegraph line, the incoming current pulses passed to the receiving instrument, or 'sounder'. Two vertical wire coils were energised by the received pulses, causing the metal arm across the top of the coils to move up and down. The movement of the arm could be heard as a succession of metallic clicks. The interval between the clicks was short in response to the short current pulse representing a 'dot', or long in response to the long current pulse representing 'dash'. A skilled operator could interpret the succession of clicks as a pattern of dots and dashes and immediately decode the letters and numbers in the received message.

This sounder was used by the Victorian Telegraph Service which operated between 1854 and 1869.

Physical Description

Two vertical wire coils and brass components on brass baseplate. Base plate and brass terminals mounted on wooden base.

Significance

This sounder is one of the few items in the telegraphy collection that can be positively associated with the Victorian Telegraph Service and the earliest days of the electric telegraph in Victoria.

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