Machines covering with Gutta Percha the Atlantic Cable Wire, at the Gutta Percha Company's... 1857. Creator: Unknown

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Machines covering with Gutta Percha the Atlantic Cable Wire, at the Gutta Percha Company's... 1857. Creator: Unknown

Machines covering with Gutta Percha the Atlantic Cable Wire, at the Gutta Percha Company's Works, Wharf-Road, [London], 1857. The core is composed of seven copper wires...wound spirally together so as to form a strand or cord; the object of this arrangement, instead of a single wire of the same sectional area, being to provide against the possibility of any break of continuity taking place in the metal. This strand...is covered with three layers of the purest gutta percha, separately applied, in the manner usual with telegraphic wire. The core thus formed by the treble covering of gutta percha...is three-eighths of an inch in diameter...the advantage thereby gained in the integrity of insulation is of the highest importance. The core of this gigantic cable (2500 miles in length) is now in the course of manufacture, under the superintendence of Mr. Samuel Statham...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857

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Media ID 36336538

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Atlantic Telegraph Company Cable Communication Copper Rubber Telecommunication Telecommunications Telegraph Trans Atlantic Transatlantic Gutta Percha Insulation Latex Wood Engraving

EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph, taken in 1857, depicts a group of workers at the Gutta Percha Company's works in London, meticulously covering the Atlantic Cable Wire with layers of Gutta Percha. The Atlantic Cable, a groundbreaking achievement in telecommunications, was designed to facilitate transatlantic telegraph communication between Europe and North America. At the heart of the cable was a core made up of seven copper wires, carefully wound together to form a strand. This innovative arrangement aimed to prevent any breaks in the metal, ensuring uninterrupted communication. The strand was then encased in three separate layers of pure Gutta Percha, a natural rubber-like substance, which served as insulation. The resulting core, with its triple covering of Gutta Percha, had a diameter of three-eighths of an inch. The importance of this insulation cannot be overstated, as the Atlantic Cable was an impressive 2500 miles in length. The manufacturing process of this gigantic cable was under the expert supervision of Mr. Samuel Statham. This photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of the manufacturing process, showcasing the dedication and craftsmanship required to bring this revolutionary technology to life.

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