Figure 1.--This CDV portait looks to have been taken in the 1870s. It shows two British General Post Office Messenger or Telegraph boys, with shakos displaying 'GPO' badges, collar numbers "T.1." & "T.2.". Also visible are the message pouches and belts. The reverse had the photographer's information "W.H.Hammer, St. Austell."

European scientists in the early 19th century worked on the science needed to develop a telegraph system. The basic problem was how to work with a weak electrical signal. A telegraph was of special interest to railroad companies for communicating between stations. Here safety was a primary concern. The first commercial electrical telegraph was constructed in England. Sir Charles Wheatstone and Sir William Fothergill Cooke pattened their system in 1837 as an alarm system. They set up a 13-mile system on the Great Western Railway in 1839. David Alter working independently pattented a electrical telegraph system in the United States in 1837. Samuel F.B. Morse patented the system in 1837 and develped what became known as Morse Code to use to send messages. Telegraphic systems soon connected the major cities of Europe and the major cities of Europe. It was the transcontinental telegraph that connected California to the American system that put the Pony Express out of businnes. Connecting Europe and merica acrodd the North Atlantic proved to be a major challenge. Cables were laid in 1857 and 58, but quickly failed. A working transatlantic was finally laid in 1866. In America the telegraph was operated by a private company--Western Union. In Europe the telegraph was often operated by the country's post office. The telegraph had a basic weakness. That was how to get the message to the addressee. Here a new job was created, commonly filled by boys. Gere we see British telegraphic messenger boys in the 1870s. Messenger boys were very important before telephones were commonplace. And long-distance telephone calls were very expensive. Thus telegrams were the common way of communicating between cities. This continued until the 1950s.

Scientific Work

European scientists in the early 19th century worked on the science needed to develop a telegraph system. The basic problem was how to work with a weak electrical signal.

Railroads

A telegraph was of special interest to railroad companies for communicating between stations. Here safety was a primary concern.

Early Systems

The first commercial electrical telegraph was constructed in England. Sir Charles Wheatstone and Sir William Fothergill Cooke pattened their system in 1837 as an alarm system. They set up a 13-mile system on the Great Western Railway in 1839. The Wheatstone system was famiously used to catch a criminal. There had been a fellony and in the hue and Cry that followed the criminal escaped by train. It looked as if he would get away because until the telegraph, the railroad was the fastest means of communication. However a telegraph message was sent on the Wheatstone system. The Police were waiting to arrest the felon when the train arrived. The criminal was easy to find because in the telegraph message his strange clothing had been described.Thus the police easily recognised the criminal by the clothes he wore. David Alter working independently pattented a electrical telegraph system in the United States in 1837. Samuel F.B. Morse patented the system in 1837 and develped what became known as Morse Code to use to send messages.

Morse Code

Charles Wheatstone's system was easier to use than the Morse telegraph. Alphabet letters were transmitted and could be read instantly at the recieving end. It was, however, very slow. This was a great disadvantage. The investment in a telegraphic system was primarily stringing the wire. It was this important to use the system to the fullest, but only one message at the time could be sent. It was thus important that the messages be sent as quickly as possible. This is why the Morse system eventually was widely adopted. It was easier to train Morse code operators than string more lines needed for slower systems. Of course it was important for one system to be adopted world-wide to facilitate international communication.

Development

Telegraphic systems soon connected the major cities of Europe and the major cities of Europe. It was the transcontinental telegraph that connected California to the American system that put the Pony Express out of businnes. Connecting Europe and merica acrodd the North Atlantic proved to be a major challenge. Cables were laid in 1857 and 58, but quickly failed. A working transatlantic was finally laid in 1866.

Organization

In America the telegraph was operated by a private company--Western Union. In Europe the telegraph was often operated by the country's post office.

Messenger Boys

The telegraph had a basic weakness. That was how to get the message to the addressee. Here a new job was created, the telegraph messenger. The job was commonly filled by boys. I am not sure why this was. Presumably because they were willing to work for low wages and tips. As the telegrph and photography appeared at about the same time, there is a good photographic record of telegraph messenger boys. Earlt telegraph boys seem to have been uniformed. Here we see British telegraphic messenger boys in the 1870s (figure 1). Messenger boys were very important before telephones were commonplace. And long-distance telephone calls were very expensive. Thus telegrams were the common way of communicating between cities. This continued until the 1950s.

Created: 5:30 PM 7/28/2006
Last updated: 4:04 PM 8/1/2006