A World War I
Ottoman signaling crew in
Huj (1917) with a
heliograph (far left), a wireless solar
telegraph that signals using
Morse code flashes of
sunlight reflected by a
mirror. The flashes were generated by tilting the mirror with a lever mounted behind it. The heliograph is a simple but highly effective instrument for instantaneous
optical communication over long distances. The record is 183 mi (295 km), using a 8"x8" mirror. The depicted device has a 5" diameter mirror, rated for 30 mile range.
Photo: American Colony; Restoration: Lise Broer