Skip to main content
Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian 3D Digitization
  • Explore
  • Collections
  • About
    • Analytics Dashboard
    • Educator Tools
    • Internships
    • Open Source Resources
    • How to Use the 3D Viewer
    • Videos
  • Labs
  • Sponsors

Chester telegraph relay

Object Details

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.
date made
ca 1860
maker
Chester, Charles T.
See more items in
Work and Industry: Electricity
Communications
Telegraph Relays & Repeaters
Exhibition
Lighting a Revolution
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Credit Line
from Janet Lewis
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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
Record ID
nmah_712417
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-3a3a-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Object Groups

  • Battery

    Electricity and Magnetism

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
We also suggest that users:
  • Give attribution to the Smithsonian.
  • Contribute back any modifications or improvements.
  • Do not mislead others or misrepresent the datasets or its sources.
  • Be responsible.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Voyager GitHub
  • Cook GitHub
  • Digitization Program Office
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Link to homepage

Back to Top