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Semaphore line facts for kids

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OptischerTelegraf
A replica of one of Chappe's semaphore towers in Nalbach, Germany
Signaling by Napoleonic semaphore line
Illustration of signaling by semaphore in 18th century France. The operators would move the semaphore arms to successive positions to spell out text messages in semaphore code, and the people in the next tower would read them.

A semaphore line is an installation used to send optical signals. It is also known as optical telegraph. Common system include signal towers with special installations on them or hand-held flags. The meaning of the signal is determined by the position of the elements, for example the flags. The signal can be read when it is in a stable position. In modern usage, it refers to signalling with a set of flags.

Signal towers came before the electric telegraph. They were faster than sending out post riders with the information.

Characters

The following semaphore characters are presented as one would face the flagman:

  • Semaphore Ready

    Rest / Space

  • Semaphore Numeric

    Numerals

  • Semaphore Error

    Error

  • Semaphore Cancel

    Cancel

  • Semaphore Alpha

    A / 1

  • Semaphore Bravo

    B / 2

  • Semaphore Charlie

    C / 3
    Acknowledge

  • Semaphore Delta

    D / 4

  • Semaphore Echo

    E / 5

  • Semaphore Foxtrot

    F / 6

  • Semaphore Golf

    G / 7

  • Semaphore Hotel

    H / 8

  • Semaphore India

    I / 9

  • Semaphore Juliet

    J
    Letters

  • Semaphore Kilo

    K / 0

  • Semaphore Lima

    L

  • Semaphore Mike

    M

  • Semaphore November

    N
    Negative

  • Semaphore Oscar

    O

  • Semaphore Papa

    P

  • Semaphore Quebec

    Q

  • Semaphore Romeo

    R

  • Semaphore Sierra

    S

  • Semaphore Tango

    T

  • Semaphore Uniform

    U

  • Semaphore Victor

    V

  • Semaphore Whiskey

    W

  • Semaphore X-ray

    X

  • Semaphore Yankee

    Y

  • Semaphore Zulu

    Z

Related articles

Images for kids

  • Rees's Cyclopaedia - Hooke's optical telegraph

    Illustration showing Robert Hooke's proposed system. At top are various symbols that might be used; ABCE indicates the frame, and D the screen behind which each of the symbols are hidden when not in use.

  • Rees's Cyclopaedia - Richard Lovell Edgeworth's optical telegraph

    Sir Richard Lovell Edgeworth's proposed optical telegraph for use in Ireland. The rotational position of each one of the four indicators represented a number 1-7 (0 being "rest"), forming a four-digit number. The number stood for a particular word in a codebook.

  • Chappe semaphore

    19th-century demonstration of the semaphore

  • Reseau chappe77

    The Chappe Network in France

  • Tour du telegraphe Chappe Saverne 02

    A Chappe semaphore tower near Saverne, France

  • Optical telegraph01 4484

    A replica of an optical telegraph in Stockholm, Sweden

  • Murray Shutter Telegraph 1795

    Diagram of UK Murray six-shutter system, with shutter 6 in the horizontal position, and shutters 1–5 vertical

  • Stalbanshighstreet1807 cropped640

    St. Albans High Street in 1807, showing the shutter telegraph on top of the city's Clock Tower. It was on the London to Great Yarmouth line.

  • Sudika Nadur Ta' Kenuna

    Ta' Kenuna Tower, a semaphore tower in Nadur, Gozo, Malta, built by the British in 1848

  • Semaphore Tower at Khatirbazar, Andul

    The Semaphore Tower at Khatirbazar, Andul in Howrah district of West Bengal

  • LowHeadSemaphore

    A restored two-arm semaphore post at Low Head in Tasmania

  • Telégrafo óptico, Ávila

    Restored semaphore in Adanero, Spain.

  • Télégraphe Chappe par Töpffer

    A cartoon strip of "Monsieur Pencil" (1831) by Rodolphe Töpffer

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Telégrafo óptico para niños

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