Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We've all seen Morse keys, they come in a variety of forms. And we've all heard the infamous SOS message, but did you know we probably shouldn't call them Morse keys.
Here's why:
Samuel Morse possibly the most famous portrait painter from North America traveled to Europe to study the European style of painting. He also had an interest in the very new science of electricity magnetism and on his return by ship he thought he could use the newly discovered electromagnet for a communication system.
After his return he devoted all his time to developing his new system and engaged several people including a man named Alfred Vail who was a mechanical genius.
It was most likely Vail who came up with the idea of the key to make the various sequences of dots and dashes.
The first key was named the 'Correspondent' - it was relatively crude but later the 'Lever Correspondent' was introduced and all manual keys today follow this basic pattern.
So should we call them Morse keys or Vail keys - what do you think?
More information can be found at: electronics-notes.com/articles/history/morse-code-telegraph/telegraph-history.php
Website homepage: electronics-notes.com
Please don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/electronicsnotes?sub_confirmation=1
We've all seen Morse keys, they come in a variety of forms. And we've all heard the infamous SOS message, but did you know we probably shouldn't call them Morse keys.
Here's why:
Samuel Morse possibly the most famous portrait painter from North America traveled to Europe to study the European style of painting. He also had an interest in the very new science of electricity magnetism and on his return by ship he thought he could use the newly discovered electromagnet for a communication system.
After his return he devoted all his time to developing his new system and engaged several people including a man named Alfred Vail who was a mechanical genius.
It was most likely Vail who came up with the idea of the key to make the various sequences of dots and dashes.
The first key was named the 'Correspondent' - it was relatively crude but later the 'Lever Correspondent' was introduced and all manual keys today follow this basic pattern.
So should we call them Morse keys or Vail keys - what do you think?
More information can be found at: electronics-notes.com/articles/history/morse-code-telegraph/telegraph-history.php
Website homepage: electronics-notes.com
Please don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/electronicsnotes?sub_confirmation=1
