Essentially, telegraph systems based on the science of electrostatics require a charge generator, a transmission path and a charge detector for their successful working. In 1675, Otto Guericke (1602-1686) was the first person to construct an electrical machine. He used a globe of sulphur as the substance to be excited and found that light bodies suspended within its sphere of action themselves became excited. Guericke was a contemporary of Boyle who in the same year had published his book on Experiments and notes about the mechanical origin of electricity. The publication of this work, following the 'De Magnete' of W. Gilbert (1544-1603) in 1600, marked a re-awakening of interest in the subject of electricity, and effectively heralded the birth of a new branch of physics.

Inspec keywords: history; telegraphy

Other keywords: transmission path; charge generator; telegraph systems; electric telegraphy; electrical machine; electricity; charge detector; electrostatics

Subjects: Telegraphy