Group of Telegraph and Telephone Equipment, 1860 onwards

1) Camelback key, c. 1860, very early German land-line model, non-adjustable spring and heavy brass lever, polished brass, on walnut plinth. – 2) Cathedral GPO Telegraph Signal Indicator & Galvanometer, British General Post Office, Siemens Brothers & Co., London, no. 16119. – 3) Telegraph repeater, c. 1910, probably Germany, with 2 relays, on mahogany base with lid, 13 x 10 ¼ in. – Note: Telegraph repeaters amplify electrical signals in a telegraph line using a local power source. The electrical pulses fade in strength as they travel through the wire, limiting the range of a message. – 4) GPO double-current key, 5 terminals, glazed brass cover, "send – receive" switch. – 5) Edison & Swan galvanometer, Q and I (Quantity and Intensity) detector, measuring device for maintenance work on telephones and telegraphs. – 6) Sounder, Telegrafos Galleres, Madrid, no. 1949, polished brass on walnut board. – And: 7) Early German telegraph key, made by C. Lewert, Berlin, no. 2048.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)