Historical information

One of two engine room telegraphs used on the bridge of HMVS Cerberus, one of Autralia's most important colonial warships. Cerberus was built in England and was launched in 1868, arriving in Port Philip in 1871 to guard the entrance to the bay. Cerberus was decommissioned in 1924 and was scuttled near Black Rock to become a breakwater, and is now protected under the Commonwealth Underwater Heritage Act. Engine room telegraphs were located on a ships bridge and indicated changes of course to the ships engine room, typically by sounding a bell and moving a dial in the engine room to 'telegraph' a change of course to the engineers.

Physical description

Engine-room telegraph - comprising a large cast iron pedestal on which is mounted a circular white enamelled brass instrument face. A lever on the side of the dial can be moved to indicate changes of course.

Inscriptions & markings

On dial:
AHEAD - FULL HALF SLOW
STOP
ASTERN - STANDBY HALF FULL

MECHAN & SONS/SCOTSTOUN/GLASGOW