Grasshopper Send-Receive Morse Key
The 'Grasshopper' Send-Receiver Morse Key, known as such because of its distinctive shape, was initially developed by Marconi around 1896. The Morse key acted as a 'send/receive' switch. The terminal at the rear of the ebonite rod was connected to the aerial by a flexible wire, and the screened terminal beneath it was connected to the receiver by a lead-covered wire. A spring kept the terminals' contacts together until the operator pulled the handle for transmitting, thereby disconnecting aerial and receiver - this disconnection being important to prevent damage to the receiver by the high powered transmitter pulses.
Related Objects:
- Inventory No. 70649, "Replica Grasshopper Send-Receive Morse Key, Late 20th Century" [2004-9/148]
- Inventory No. 79280, "Grasshopper Send-Receive Morse Key, by Marconi Company, English, c. 1899" [2004-9/396], Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company Limited
- Inventory No. 27753, "Replica Grasshopper Send-Receive Morse Key, 1970s" [2004-9/434]