Table Of ContentHISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY SERIES 29
Sir Charles
Wheatstone FRS
1802–1875
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The Institute of Electrical Engineers
in association with the Science Museum
IEE HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY SERIES 29
Series Editors: Dr B. Bowers
Dr C. Hempstead
Sir Charles
Wheatstone FRS
1802-1875
Other volumes in this series:
Volume Measuring instruments—tools of knowledge P. H. Sydenham
Volume Early radio wave detectors V. J. Phillips
Volume A history of electric light and power B. Bowers
Volume The history of electric wires and cables R. M. Black
Volume An early history of electricity supply J. D. Poulter
Volume Technical history of the beginnings of radar S. S. Swords
Volume British television—the formative years R. W. Burns
Volume Hertz and the Maxwellians J. G. O'Hara and D. W. Pricha
Volume Vintage telephones of the world P. J. Povey and R. A. J. Earl
Volume 10 The GEC Research Laboratories 1919-84 R. J. Clayton and J. Algar
Volume 11 Metres to microwaves E. B. Callick
Volume 12 A history of the world semiconductor industry P. R. Morris
Volume 13 Wireless: the crucial decade, 1924-1934 G. Bussey
Volume 14 A scientist's war—diary of Sir Clifford Paterson R. Clayton and
J. Algar (Editors)
Volume 15 Electrical technology in mining: the dawn of a new age A. V. Jones and
R. Tarkenter
Volume 16 'Curiosity perfectly satisfyed': Faraday's travels in Europe 1813-1815
B. Bowers and L. Symons (Editors)
Volume 17 Michael Faraday's 'Chemical notes, hints, suggestions and objects of
pursuit' of 1822 R. D. Tweney and D. Gooding (Editors)
Volume 18 Lord Kelvin: his influence on electrical measurements and units
P. Tunbridge
Volume 19 History of international broadcasting J. Wood
Volume 20 The very early history of radio, from Faraday to Marconi G. Garratt
Volume 21 Exhibiting electricity K. G. Beauchamp
Volume 22 Television: an international history of the formative years R. W. Burns
Volume 23 History of international broadcasting, Volume 2 J. Wood
Volume 24 The life and times of A. D. Blumlein R. W. Burns
Volume 25 History of electric light and power, 2nd edition B. Bowers
Volume 26 A history of telegraphy K. G. Beauchamp
Volume 27 Restoring Baird's image D. F. McLean
Volume 28 John Logie Baird, television pioneer R. W. Burns
Sir Charles
Wheatstone FRS
1802-1875
Brian Bowers
The Institution of Electrical Engineers
in association with the Science Museum
Published by: The Institution of Electrical Engineers, London,
United Kingdom
©2001: The Science Museum, London, United Kingdom
This publication is copyright under the Berne Convention and the
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Bowers, Brian
Sir Charles Wheatstone.- 2nd ed.
(IEE history of technology series; no. 29)
1. Wheatstone, Sir Charles, 1802-1875 2. Physicists - England -
Biography 3. Musical instrument makers - England - Biography
I. Title II. Institution of Electrical Engineers
5301 .092
ISBN 0 85296 103 0
Typeset by RefineCatch Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk
Printed by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall
Artist's impression of the Enchanted Lyre demonstration, which
first brought Wheatstone into prominence.
Contents
Foreword xi
Preface xiii
List of figures xv
List of tables xix
1 An extraordinary fellow 1
Notes 3
2 Early life 5
The Enchanted Lyre 8
The family business 9
Notes 11
PART 1 - SOUND AND LIGHT 13
3 Researches in sound 15
First scientific publication 17
The Royal Institution 20
The Kaleidophone 22
Resonance 24
Notes 30
4 Musical instrument manufacturer 33
The transmission of sound 33
Talking machines 34
New musical instruments 35
Teaching musical theory 41
The wave machine 43
Notes 44
5 The stereoscope 45
Notes 54
viii Contents
PART 2 - ELECTRICITY 55
6 The velocity of electricity 57
The speed of light 66
Notes 68
7 Professor Wheatstone 69
Notes 78
8 Researches in electricity 79
Generators 82
Electromagnetic engines 85
Linear motors 95
Detonating explosives: induction generators 99
Notes 99
9 Electrical measurements 101
Early measuring techniques 103
The Bakerian Lecture 104
Notes 112
PART 3 - THE TELEGRAPH 115
10 Early telegraphy 117
Wheatstone's early telegraph ideas 119
Cooke's early telegraph ideas 122
The partnership 124
Rival inventors 125
The first telegaph patent 128
Notes 137
11 The practical electric telegraph 139
'ABC telegraphs 141
Dispute and arbitration 145
Printing telegraphs 148
The Electric Telegraph Company 151
Notes 156
12 Submarine telegraphy 157
Trials in Swansea Bay 161
The capacitance of cables 162
The submarine cable inquiry 163
Notes 165
Contents ix
13 The developing telegraph
Codes and ciphers
Chronoscopes '
Telemetry 178
Typewriters
Wheatstone's later telegraphs *8^
Note 184
PART 4 - SIR CHARLES 185
14 Wheatstone at home * °'
Marriage and family *°'
Private life 191
Notes 193
15 Later scientific work *^
New generator designs 196
Waveforms 199
The self-excited generator 203
Miscellaneous science ^^^
Adviser to government 210
Notes 23
16 The public figure
Notes
Appendix - sources 223
Wheatstone's correspondence 223
Wheatstone's scientific papers 223
Index 231
