Telegraph Soldier Sets (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

This topic came up on a thread about WWI but I think it may be of general interest. As we all know the telegraph became a major tool of war in the 19th Century. I have found 3 sets of toy soldiers on this subject. The 1st 2 are by Fusilier and the 3rd by William Hocker. All three are meant to represent units on the North-West Frontier. I am also showing a 19th C Civil War print which I believe would make a great diorama set. I have also added Mike's (1879fanatic) telegraph diorama using the Fusilier set.

Do any of you know of other telegraph sets that have been made for any period from the 19th C on?

 

[PolarBear]

Signal Sets might be considered as well:

Here are:

Hocker--North-West Frontier
Camp Randall---WWI
Ted Toy--ACW

 

[thebritfarmer]

I think RP world model make a couple of horse drawn sets Randy. They call them air line sets, maybe not the same thing, but look similar.

 

[GICOP]

Hi Randy

Nice idea for a thread

Here are my 24th HELIOGRAPH SIGNALLERS

I believe this set was made by WESSEX in 1990.

Bought these before I got hooked on TROPHY

Cheers

Martyn

 

[PolarBear]

Hi Randy

Nice idea for a thread

Here are my 24th HELIOGRAPH SIGNALLERS

I believe this set was made by WESSEX in 1990.

Bought these before I got hooked on TROPHY

Cheers

Martyn

Martyn

A great set and thanks for adding it to the thread.

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

ACW Signal Towers

 

[PolarBear]

Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers 1891

"Members of the Battalion at Chevening Camp 1891. It was at the suggestion of Major Beresford (seated second from left) that Mercury became the emblem for Signallers. Lieutenant Fowler (seated third from left) later, as Major General, became the first Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Signals.

The Telegraph Battalion was mobilized for the South African War and it was during this war that the Wheatstone Automatic Telegraph was successfully introduced. In the years 1895 - 1898, Marconi's experiments in the field of wireless communications were closely watched and in 1899 a wireless system, complete with operators, was hired by the War Office for use in the Boer War. The equipment at the time was heavy and clumsy and the engineers could not get it to work satisfactorily in the dry conditions of South Africa. Therefore, it was not taken into active service during the Boer War."

 

[PolarBear]

Union Army Signal Corps 1862

Harper's Weekly June 28, 1862

 

[Louis Badolato]

Good idea. I know Heco (the tinplate manufacturer) made a Zulu War Heliograph set that was up for auction on ebay a couple of times lately.

 

[1879fanatic]

Good idea. I know Heco (the tinplate manufacturer) made a Zulu War Heliograph set that was up for auction on ebay a couple of times lately.

Louis,
I saw that also, and frankly had no idea they made figures. My only info on Heco actually came from one of your posts. Next time... My company is involved in job training programs for schools, CCs , govt, etc. and emphasizes telecommunications, a natural fit for this stuff we're talking about. Maybe a couple dios around the office building?
Mike

 

[1879fanatic]

Randy,
Should have started the thread with this guy. Also Hocker has a Signal Team for Boer/North-West Frontier.
Mike

 

[PolarBear]

Randy,
Should have started the thread with this guy. Also Hocker has a Signal Team for Boer/North-West Frontier.
Mike

Mike: Great choices.

I posted the W Hocker signal team below but it is only the thumbnail so thanks for the larger version.

BTW How did you get the yellow backdrop to stay with the Hocker figures? When I drag and drop I loose it.

Randy

 

[1879fanatic]

Mike: Great choices.

I posted the W Hocker signal team below but it is only the thumbnail so thanks for the larger version.

BTW How did you get the yellow backdrop to stay with the Hocker figures? When I drag and drop I loose it.

Randy

Randy,
I told you, "Danger" is my middle name! Seriously though I just right click on a picture and Save As to my pictures, though this method is strictly for trained professionals and should not be attempted at home.
Mike

 

[1879fanatic]

I mentioned somewhere that the diameter of the real telegraph cable was approx. 1/4". Britfarmer then mentioned that the 1/32 scale would make the telegraph cable 1/64". Well, I was able to find some black annodized wire that is smaller than that and fits the scale sized to perfection. I can't wait to utilyze this someday. I got 498' for $4 from my manufacturer's supplyhouse.
Mike

 

[PolarBear]

I mentioned somewhere that the diameter of the real telegraph cable was approx. 1/4". Britfarmer then mentioned that the 1/32 scale would make the telegraph cable 1/64". Well, I was able to find some black annodized wire that is smaller than that and fits the scale sized to perfection. I can't wait to utilyze this someday. I got 498' for $4 from my manufacturer's supplyhouse.
Mike

Mike

That's perfect and will look very authentic.

I need to find some silver tele wire to go with my WH Bombay telegraph section.
I won't get it as thick as we see on the spool, however.

Randy

 

[1879fanatic]

Randy,
For silver colored wire, I'd try good ole' solder, the kind for electronics or plumbing. Plumbing solder will be a lot thicker, so try electronic solder that comes in sizes down to .027. The good thing for you will be that it tends to stay in place without flexing by itself.

I wonder what kind of wire Bill H was thinking of when he put it on the spool?
By the early 50's wire manufacturers had perfected the use of insulation, such as vulcanized rubber, and woven fibres.
Mike

 

[PolarBear]

Randy,
For silver colored wire, I'd try good ole' solder, the kind for electronics or plumbing. Plumbing solder will be a lot thicker, so try electronic solder that comes in sizes down to .027. The good thing for you will be that it tends to stay in place without flexing by itself.

I wonder what kind of wire Bill H was thinking of when he put it on the spool?
By the early 50's wire manufacturers had perfected the use of insulation, such as vulcanized rubber, and woven fibres.
Mike

You are right. All I have found so far suggests the wire was insulated. After your finding I think the wire on my spool is too thick. I may go for some thinner wire if I string up some poles, otherwise it will look too heavy.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I mentioned somewhere that the diameter of the real telegraph cable was approx. 1/4". Britfarmer then mentioned that the 1/32 scale would make the telegraph cable 1/64". Well, I was able to find some black annodized wire that is smaller than that and fits the scale sized to perfection. I can't wait to utilyze this someday. I got 498' for $4 from my manufacturer's supplyhouse.
Mike

Great stuff Mike and 15.5 ft of that stuff would give you roughly a 498' 1/32 scale spool

 

[1879fanatic]

Great stuff Mike and 15.5 ft of that stuff would give you roughly a 498' 1/32 scale spool

Now, Scott how much per mile? and how about spool size? Should I keep the same size as the one I built, or smaller?
Mike

 

[thebritfarmer]

Now, Scott how much per mile? and how about spool size? Should I keep the same size as the one I built, or smaller?
Mike

Well a mile would be about 165' in 1:32 land so you may have to adjust that spool a little. You could use the original spool as it has about 3 miles on it