Rainey polar telegraph relay
Date: circa 1920
Inventory Number: 1997-1-0579
Classification: Telegraph Relay
Subject:
Maker: Western Electric Company (1881 - 1995)
User: Department of Physics, Harvard University (founded 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
13.1 × 13.9 × 13.9 cm (5 3/16 × 5 1/2 × 5 1/2 in.)
Accessories: cover
DescriptionBrown doughnut shaped piece of wood, with flat screws for connection to a battery along the outside edge as well as the top edge. The screws along the outer edge are numbered 1-11, the numbers appearing to the right of the respective screw. There is a vertical binding post on the top surface. In the center of the apparatus is a black metal plate with two cylinders sitting on top of it. White wires run from the base of the cylinders to a space below the black metal plate. One of the cylinders has a mesh-looking surface; the other is shiny, with some tattered cardboard wrapped around the middle. There is a metal plate on top of the cylinders with two bars coming out of it. The bars are connected by black screws to a brass colored piece of metal.
There is also a separate black cylinder, possibly a cover. The cylinder is hollow, almost as tall as the main apparatus, and glass on top.
The complete technical description, from the original patent, can be read here.
There is also a separate black cylinder, possibly a cover. The cylinder is hollow, almost as tall as the main apparatus, and glass on top.
The complete technical description, from the original patent, can be read here.
Signedon cylinder: WESTERN ELECTRIC / COMPANY INC.
Inscribedon base: PATD IN U.S.A. / May 23, 1916 / D12020.
FunctionThis telegraphic instrument was used as control relay. It could be used to control the current flow between other telegraphic instruments and switchboards.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Lyman laboratory, Harvard University.