Wheatstone's telegraph receiver
Date: 1945-1960
Inventory Number: DW0887b
Classification: Telegraph Receiver
Dimensions:19.4 × 18.4 × 8.6 cm (7 5/8 × 7 1/4 × 3 3/8 in.)
box: 14 × 26 × 19.7 cm (5 1/2 × 10 1/4 × 7 3/4 in.)
Accessories: part of a set that includes the transmitter (DW0887a)
DescriptionA telegraphic receiver that receives an incoming electrical signal and activates a pointer on a dial-like display of letters and numbers.
The receiver is housed in an upright wooden case mounted on a four-footed wooden base. The case has a pair of brass binding posts with knurled-edge adjustment screws, one mounted on each side. And additional two brass adjustment screws are mounted on the right side of the case.
A large, circular instrument dial, housed in a decorative brass frame and visible behind a glass window, displays a ring of letters, A-Z, and a smaller, partial inner ring of numbers, 1-9 and 0 arranged clockwise starting at the "12 O-clock" position on the dial. At the top of the dial are also the labels "ALPHABET," "+" and "CHIFFRES." A center-mounted pointer rotates to point to letters and numbers on the display.
Notice that it lacks a "W", probably as it was made for the French market.
The case, which is open on the top, has a hinged back which can be opened. Inside, a pair of electrical coils is mounted on a metal panel, and is connected to the binding posts and adjustment screws. The coils magnetize a "Y" shaped metal bracket which controls the needle on the dial.