Signal Corps Museum photos
of
Fully Functional Replicas
of
the Beardslee Field
Flying Telegraph!
Designed and Built by
Dave Bock and David Harbin
With the original from Hilton Head
at the
Signal Museum, Fort Gordon, Georgia
The following is a press release to the Center for Military History newsletter
A three year waiting period finally paid off for the Signal Corps Museum. It all started off as a casual conversation between a museum volunteer Mr. Cliff Manasco and Mr. David Bock a Civil War Signal Corps history enthusiast. On April 30th two, fully functional, Civil War era, reproduction Beardslee Electromagnetic Telegraphs were delivered. The museum has a rare original of one of the machines. Parts are missing and naturally couldn't be used even if it was complete.
Mr. Mike Rodgers, exhibits designer, took many photos of the original Beardslee for Mr. Bock and his partners Mr. David Harbin and Mr. Ted Wagner to get started making the Beardslees. This was no small undertaking. They made six Beardslees in all. The outward appearance of the machines are exactly like the original but that is where the similarities ends. The insides of the machines are full of electronics. With no schematics to go by Mr. Bock and his partners had to figure out how to make the machines work like the original. Fortunately Mr. Bock is an electronics designer. After many failures, successes and field trials the machines performed as the original would. They even built in electronic "faults" which were characteristic of the original. Mr. Bock and partners absorbed the cost for both machines estimated to be worth $15,000.00 EACH !!
The Beardslees will be used as an educational tool for all groups visiting the museum as well as the museum's "living history" program. The educational value is priceless as are the machines. For more information on the Beardslee go to www.civilwarsignal.org/ .
Mike Rodgers
Exhibits Designer
Signal Corps Museum
 Beardslee box #4 at Signal Museum 30 April 2002 |
 Beardslee box #3 at Signal Museum 30 April 2002 |
 Beardslee box #3 and #4 at Signal Museum 30 April 2002 |
 Beardslee box #3 and #4 at Signal Museum 30 April 2002 second view |
 Original Beardslee showing stepping motor (left) and magneto pile (right) |
 Original Beardslee showing stepping motor |
 Original Beardslee Note 1:5 gear set followed by 1:2 gear set |
 Original Beardslee showing hand dial coupling |
 Beardslee (original) magneto pile six coils |
 Beardslee (original) coupling note soldered connections to switch |
 Beardslee (original) 1:5 gear set 60 pulses for 30 steps |
 Beardslee (original) dial copper dial with silver plate indicator needle missing |
 Beardslee (original) switches and magneto top |
 Beardslee (original)left side |
 Beardslee (original) back view |
 Beardslee (original) latch assembly |
 Beardslee (original) switches and magneto top |
 Beardslee (original) right side |
 Beardslee (original) front view |
 Beardslee (original) from front Christine Bock viewing |
Beardslee replicas now part of the Signal Corps Museum
a gift
from
Dave Bock and David Harbin
 Mike Rodgers of the Signal Museum at Fort Gordon accepting the Beardslee Replicas to be used by Mike and Cliff in the field. |
 Bannerman Catalog of Military Goods - 1927, Francis Bannerman and Sons, NY, pg 334 from the Signal Corps Museum Note: this is box 89 a higher number than the 60 thought to have existed. |
 Beardslee at the Monmouth museum Back of photo reads: Veterans of the signal corps of 1898 appearing in this picture left to right Warren L. Jacobus 11th Co Dec'd William D. Hameton (?) 2nd Co Fraurs (?) N. Lawton 3rd Co Dec'd - Donated Beardslee Harry T (?) Mc Clutock (?) 9th Co Dec'd Paul J, Jaehrmgen (?) Co H Dec'd Albert P. Hyatt Y (?) Co Circa 1940's(?) |
 Beardslee Telegraph Stations in Fredricksburg Campaign, Dec 1862 orignal drawing used by Brown from the Signal Museum Brown added to this drawing The Delacy house shown. |
 Colonel Foley Chief of Staff of the Signal Corps inspects the Beardslee Replicas |
 Ted Wise The director of the Signal Corps Museum with the Beardslee replicas |
 The checklist for the Signal Telegraph Train |
 Colonel Debow Director of Public Works, Signal Corps, Fort Gordon, GA inspects the Beardslee Replicas |
 Beardslee Flying Telegraph |
 Signal Corps |
 U.S. Military Telegraph |
 Represenative Event Reviews |