in the museum

[A Gilbert microscope set with Polaroid junior

mysterious views through

the magic lens and a Telegraph...]

some pertinent information about morse code:

The Sender

In order to send a message you needed to be trained and you had to know Morse code. Since most people didn't know Morse code, they went to a telegraph operating station and dictated their message to the operator. In the electromagnet telegraph, when the key was tapped an electric current, which was running through wires that were connected to the receiver, was cut on and provided electricity for the electromagnet on the other side. A combination of holding the key down for a long or short time made the symbols of Morse code.

A telegraph key

The Receiver

Like the sender, the receiver also had to be trained to receive a message. An electromagnet rang a bell so the receiver could watch the message come in. The magnet also moved a pen up and down onto a moving piece of paper. When the key was tapped, it provided electricity so the magnet could ring the bell and move the pen onto the message paper. Originally translators decoded the message after the message was printed. Around 1850 the message was translated as the dots and dashes came in.