telegraph relay
Date: 1900-1930
Inventory Number: 1997-1-0611
Classification: Telegraph Relay
Dimensions:7.6 × 20.2 × 8.5 cm (3 × 7 15/16 × 3 3/8 in.)
DescriptionRectangular wooden base. Seven flat pieces of metal, for connection to a battery, are screwed to the front half of the base -- three along the left edge, three along the right edge, and one in the middle of the front edge. Behind the front piece of metal is a piece of paper with the words "Standard 163-E Relay" printed at the top and an electrical diagram below. Behind the diagram is an L-shaped piece of metal that connects the base to a vertical metal plate. There are several holes in the vertical plate, out of which extend thin metal rods. Wires extend down from these rods into holes in the base.
Behind the vertical plate are two black cylinders, one above the other, with a metal plate between them. The body of the cylinders are covered with a black, rough, textured material, and there circular metal plates on the ends. The circular plates are all black, with the exception of the back plate of the bottom cylinder, which is red. Behind the red plate is a further L-shaped piece of metal connecting the red plate to the base.
There is a spring attached to the front right binding post. A string is attached to the other end of the spring.