Description:

Men's walking stick salvaged from a portion of transatlantic telegraph cable, circa 1903. Tapering wooden shaft with brass fittings at top and ferrule. Each side of the weathered, metal-banded pommel provides a handsome cross-section of the cable within. The pommel is engraved "Siemens Brothers & Co. Limited London" on the right side, and "Direct United States Cable, Laid Novr. 1874, Picked up July 1903, Long. 30°12' W. Lat. 50°.05' N., Depth 1759 Fathoms" on the left side. In very good condition, with expected finish wear. Measures approximately 36" long from top to tip.


Long-distance telegraph communication was improved by single-strand wire technology, in which more copper was compacted into the same volume of space. It is recognizable by its footprint: smaller copper cables surrounding a single larger cable at center. (A period illustration of this type of wire is attached.) This 4.5" long portion of cable had been laid down in November 1874 and picked up almost thirty years later, in July 1903. It was removed from a depth of 1759 fathoms or 10,554 feet from the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean halfway between Ireland and Newfoundland. This portion of cable was likely removed because it had been damaged or dislodged.


The first transatlantic telegraph cable united Europe and America in 1858. The industry became more competitive as the need for connectivity became more acute. Carl, Werner, and William Siemens of the London-based firm Siemens Brothers & Co., Ltd. established the Direct United States Cable Company, Ltd. in 1873. Over the next two years, the Siemen Brothers supervised the installation of the transatlantic cable between Rye, New York, Tor Bay, Nova Scotia, and Ballinskellings Bay, Ireland. Telegraph delay time was promptly reduced by 75%. The cable serviced both sides of the Atlantic well into the twentieth century.


An exceptional relic excavated from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean!



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000