MORSE INKER.

British Morse Inker circa 1900s.

INKER W/53 D17/234. The Morse Inker was invented by Thomas John of Vienna in 1854. It has an inked wheel that moves up and down under the control of a sounder. This wheel produces dots and dashes of morse code on the paper tape. The reel of tape is held in a brass revolving cage in the bottom drawer. Note the huge key for winding the clockwork motor.

Above is a closer picture of the Sounder with its four large coils.

The Ink Well with the curved slot to the right for the printing wheel.

The Ink Well seen here in position with the printing wheel sitting in its slot.

The maker of this Inker is so far unknown, but clues may be in its markings on both brasswork and wooden base of "W/53 D17/234" plus two large terminal posts at 2" (50mm) tall with 1" Dia. (25mm) terminal screws. Also there is a round 2 & 1/2" Dia. (63mm) glass window in the top of the base for viewing the paper roll, paper roll would I think be 6" Dia. and 3/8" wide (152mm by 10mm). The weight is 11.5Kg (26lb).

Above is a view of the large 2" high terminals with their 1" Diameter screws that have thin, vertical knurling and 3/16" BSF (?) threads. Also shown is the round glass viewing port.

Guglielmo Marconi and George Kemp in 1901. The Inker can be seen left of center.

"BK"