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Chappes aerial telegraph system, Algeria, mid-19th century, (c1870)
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Chappes aerial telegraph system, Algeria, mid-19th century, (c1870)
Chappes aerial telegraph system, Algeria, mid-19th century, (c1870). Claude Chappes (1763-1805) optical telegraph station used a system of rope and pulleys operated inside the station which enabled the arms on the post to be moved into different semaphore positions. At the next station in the chain, using a telescope, the operators would read the semaphore message, then pass it to the subsequent station. From Les Merveilles de la Science (The Wonders of Science), by Louis Figuier. (Paris, c1870)
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Media ID 14866014
© Oxford Science Archive / Heritage-Images
Algeria Algerian Chappe Claude Claude Chappe Desert Imperialism North Africa North African Oxford Science Archive Palm Tree Semaphore Signalling Telecommunication Telecommunications Telegraph
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This print captures the Chappes aerial telegraph system in Algeria during the mid-19th century. Developed by Claude Chappes, this optical telegraph station utilized a complex system of ropes and pulleys to manipulate the arms on the post into different semaphore positions. The operators inside the station would then transmit messages through these semaphore signals. In this image, we see a group of people gathered around the telegraph station, with one person operating the intricate mechanism. The desert landscape stretches out behind them, dotted with palm trees that provide some respite from the scorching sun. This scene is a testament to both French colonialism and technological advancements of its time. The Chappes aerial telegraph system played a crucial role in communication across long distances in North Africa. Messages were transmitted from one station to another using telescopes to read and pass on semaphore signals until they reached their destination. This engraving, taken from "Les Merveilles de la Science" (The Wonders of Science) by Louis Figuier, offers us a glimpse into an era when telecommunications were still in their infancy but rapidly evolving. It serves as a reminder of how far we have come in terms of global communication networks while also highlighting our fascination with harnessing nature's resources for human progress.
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