The Muirhead Transmitter

A device which read holes punched in paper tape and transmitted them as morse signals. The Muirhead Transmitter represents the beginnings of automation in telegraphy. This is a very early example of an automatic transmitter dating back to about 1876.

Messages were prepared in code in holes on paper tape, using a hand perforator. Operators often used small hammers or 'punches' to hit the buttons on the hand perforator. Experienced handperf operators would 'show off' by performing juggling acts with the metal punches, throwing the 'dash' punch into the air and catching it while punching 'dots' and vice versa, or punching in musical rhythms to the latest popular tune.

The Muirhead transmitter could 'read' the paper tape, and sent perfectly formed signals to line, hour after hour without a break, fast enough to be fed by a team of several 'punchers'.

In later years hand perforators were replaced by keyboard models.