Item ST 7103 Telegraph Register - Embossing, late 19th Century

Summary

Telegraph embossing register for receiving and recording telegraph signals.

In operation, the intermittent current generated by the received signals causes the embossing stylus to be intermittently pressed on to a moving paper tape. The stylus embosses a series of long and short marks on the tape, with the length of each mark depending on whether the duration of the current flow is long (producing a dash) or short (producing a dot.)

The mechanism which moves the tape is driven by a falling weight attached to a chain passing over a sprocket on the main drive shaft.

Physical Description

Wooden baseboard. Two vertical coils at one end of baseboard. Gear mechanism enclosed in brass case with inking mechanism mounted above case. Arm with spindle to hold reel of paper tape missing. Various terminals for wire connections.