電報機 - Creed & Company - 黃銅, 銅, 膠木 - 1920-1930 - 1927型电报继电器

A Creed & Co. Ltd. Type 1927 telegraph relay, manufactured in London and dating from the early period of automated telegraph communications.

Creed & Co. was an important British manufacturer involved in the development of telegraph and teleprinter technology during the first half of the 20th century. Its equipment formed part of the infrastructure used to receive, repeat and transmit electrical signals over telegraph networks.

This example is prominently marked around the base:

“CREED & CO. LTD. – TYPE 1927 RELAY”

and carries two British patent numbers:

British Patent No. 172717
British Patent No. 235300

The internal relay mechanism is individually numbered:

Serial No. 12866

with the marking “S 12866 M” visible directly on the upper assembly.

The instrument consists of a substantial black mounting base supporting a cylindrical brass housing with a hinged lid. Opening the housing reveals the electromagnetic relay mechanism, including its coils, adjustment wheels and the control marked “FIELD STRENGTH – INCR. / DECR.”

The circular contact assembly incorporated into the base retains its individual contacts and terminals, providing a clear view of the electromechanical construction used in telecommunications equipment of this period.

The cylindrical brass housing has developed considerable natural patina, with oxidation and colour variation accumulated over many decades. Together with the black base and exposed internal mechanism, the construction is characteristic of early 20th-century professional electrical equipment.

Examples of the Creed Type 1927 relay are preserved in institutional collections, including Museums Victoria in Australia and Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation. Museum documentation associates the Type 1927 relay with Creed/Murray telegraph and multiplex equipment, providing useful historical context for the model and its role in the development of automated telecommunications.

- Condition:

Good antique/vintage condition with substantial age-related patina.

The brass housing shows oxidation, discoloration, scratches, marks and areas of surface wear consistent with its age and industrial use. The black base and surrounding contact assembly also show wear and oxidation.

There is a visible crack/damaged section to the outer circular rim of the base/contact assembly, with associated surface loss and oxidation. This area is clearly documented in the photographs and should be considered part of the condition of the object.

The hinged cylindrical cover opens and closes normally. The accessible internal mechanism, adjustment controls and other moving components have been manually checked and move normally and freely.

No restoration or aggressive polishing has been undertaken, preserving the historical surface and patina.

The instrument has not been electrically tested under operating conditions and is therefore offered as a historical/collectible technical instrument rather than as certified working telecommunications equipment.

- Details:

Manufacturer: Creed & Co. Ltd.
Origin: London, England
Instrument: Telegraph relay
Model: Type 1927 Relay
British Patents: 172717 & 235300
Serial No.: 12866
Internal marking: S 12866 M
Adjustment: “FIELD STRENGTH – INCR. / DECR.”
Materials: Brass housing, metal, electrical components and insulating material

A well-documented and scarce surviving example of early Creed telecommunications equipment. The Type 1927 relay is represented in major institutional collections, while examples appear relatively infrequently on the collectors’ market.

With its identifiable model, patent markings, serial-numbered mechanism and largely complete mechanical assembly, this example is particularly relevant to collections focused on telegraphy, electrical engineering, scientific instruments and the history of communications technology.

The photographs form an integral part of the condition description.

Carefully packed for secure international shipping.