Accession No

3921

Brief Description

section of the government telegraph cable to India, speciments of the Persian Gulf telegraph cable, by W. T. Henley, second half 19th Century

Origin

England; North Woolwich

Maker

Henley, W. T.

Class

electrical; physics

Earliest Date

1863

Latest Date

1864

Inscription Date

Material

wood; glass; metal (brass, steel, white metal; copper); rope; cloth (velvet); resin

Dimensions

length 442mm; breadth 190mm; height 76mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased, 1993.

Inscription

‘GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH TO INDIA.
SPECIMENS OF THE PERSIAN GULF TELEGRAPH CABLE
MANUFACTURED BY W. T. HENLEY. NORTH WOOLWICH.
UNDER THE SPECIAL SUPERVISION OF LIEUT. COLL. P. STEWART. R.E.
AND THE ENGINEERS. SIR CHAS. BRIGHT AND MR. LATIMER CLARK
TOTAL LENGTH OF CABLE 1420 MILES, WEIGHT 5100 TONS.
NO. 1. MAIN CABLE. NO. 2. SHORE END. NO. 3. BUSHIRE SHORE END.’ (metal plaque at bottom of case)

Description Notes

Wooden case with hinged glazed door and brass lock, lined with blue velvet (much faded). Contains 3 lengths and 3 cross-sections of telegraph cable. Each length comprising central copper wire contained with resin insulator wrapped in rope and covered by steel cable inside outer resin coating. Ends bound in brass and numbered 1, 2 and 3. Cross-sections set into wooden fitting in top of box. Explanatory metal plaque at bottom.

Condition fair (steel rather rusty); complete (key missing).

References

Events