Telegraph - Gilt brass, Beech, Mahogany - 1850-1900

This object is an antique telegraph key (or telegraph manipulator) used to send messages in Morse code. Here are the main details about your model according to the markings visible in the photos: Manufacturer: Ducretet & Roger (Paris). Eugène Ducretet was a famous maker of scientific instruments and telegraph equipment in Paris at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century (the partnership with Roger existed roughly from 1888 to 1900). Materials: a base of noble wood (probably mahogany or stained beech) with brass mechanical components and a wooden or ebonite operation button. Function: by pressing the vertical lever, you close an electrical circuit to generate the impulses (dots and dashes) of Morse code to a telegraph line or a receiver. The short-circuit screw (or built-in switch) allows closing the line when the device is at rest. It is a beautiful collectible piece related to the history of telecommunications and French electric telegraphy in the late 19th century.