Chester telegraph relay

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Object Details

maker

Chester, Charles T.

Description

Telegraph relays amplified electrical signals in a telegraph line. Telegraph messages traveled as a series of electrical pulses through a wire from a transmitter to a receiver. Short pulses made a dot, slightly longer pulses a dash. The pulses faded in strength as they traveled through the wire, to the point where the incoming signal was too weak to directly operate a receiving sounder or register. A relay detected a weak signal and used a battery to strengthen the signal so that the receiver would operate.

This relay includes a marble base and was made by Charles T. Chester of New York City. The electromagnet coils are fixed but the steel core can be moved to adjust the strength of the magnetic field.

Credit Line

from Janet Lewis

date made

ca 1860

ID Number

EM.335588

catalog number

335588

accession number

323535

serial number

589

Object Name

relay

telegraph relay

Other Terms

telegraph relay; Telegraphy

Physical Description

brass (overall material)

marble (overall material)

fabric (overall material)

copper (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 3 1/2 in x 8 3/8 in x 5 3/8 in; 8.89 cm x 21.2725 cm x 13.6525 cm

See more items in

Work and Industry: Electricity

Communications

Telegraph Relays & Repeaters

Exhibition

Lighting a Revolution

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

Data Source