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The Siphon Recorder
Slide 1
Photo of Siphon Recorder
A form of Galvanometer invented by Lord Kelvin in 1867.
Slide 2
Moving image of Siphon Recorder working.
As sensitive as the Mirror Galvanometer, it had the advantage of also creating a permanent record of the received signal.
The recorder translated the incoming signal into a series of squiggles on a paper ribbon. These were then interpreted by a telegraph clerk.
Slide 3
Photo of Siphon Recorder
Sound recording explaining the Siphon Recorded consisted of a coil of wire suspended between the poles of a powerful permanent magnet. When current flowed through this coil it created a magnetic field which reacted with the field of the permanent magnet and caused the coil to move very slightly. Movement of the coil was transmitted by two silk threads to a thin glass siphon tube. One end of the siphon tube dipped into a tray of electrostatically charged ink.
Slide 4
Drawing of Siphon Recorder
Sound recording explaining the other end of the siphon was the pen, which wrote upon the paper. But to avoid friction between the pen and the moving paper slip it didn't quite touch it and the powerful electrostatic charge drew the ink onto the paper.
Slide 5
Photo of 'Mouse Mill'
This 'Mouse Mill' electric motor performed two functions in the recorder: it electrostatically charged the ink and also drew the paper tape past the siphon tube.
Slide 6
Moving image of Siphon Recorder working.
As well as being sensitive, the recorder only required one operator (unlike the Mirror Galvanometer, which required two) and so was much more cost-efficient on heavily used lines, like the transatlantic cable.
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