My Telegraph Collection (#18-#33)

 Rob L. Dey  KA2BEO  1/97


Telegraph Relay #18

Model: n/a
Serial: n/a
Date: Late 1800's to 1900
Type: Local, with 2 horizontal coils (Main Line type has higher impedance)
Manufacturer: Electric Supply Co.
Address: Manhattan, NY  U.S.A.
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 1/16" dia. silver
Frame: Brass
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Coil: 5-ohms, 3-6Vdc (1.2A)
Hardware: Brass
Base: approx. 6"L x 3-1/2"W x 7/8"H wood on black, japanned, cast-iron, rectangular
Features: Cast-iron skirt.
Markings(location):
Condition: Excellent
History: Used for American Landline Morse Telegraphy. Also called Manhattan Supply 
Co., the company name later became Manhattan Electric Supply Co.(MESCO).
Comments: Normally connected to a local sounder and a local battery, which was then 
connected to the Main Line.
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Telegraph Relay #19

Model: n/a
Serial: n/a
Date: Late 1800's to 1900 (But slightly newer than the previous listing)
Type: Local, with 2 horizontal coils (Main Line type has higher impedance)
Manufacturer: Electric Supply Co.
Address: Manhattan, NY  U.S.A.
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 1/16" dia. silver
Frame: Brass
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Coil: 5-ohms, 3-6Vdc (1.2A)
Hardware: Brass
Base: approx. 6"L x 3-1/2"W x 7/8"H wood on black, japanned, cast-iron, rectangular
Features: Cast-iron skirt.
Markings(location):
Condition: Excellent
History: Used for American Landline Morse Telegraphy. Also called Manhattan Supply 
Co., the company name later became Manhattan Electric Supply Co.(MESCO).
Comments: Normally connected to a local sounder and a local battery, which was then 
connected to the Main Line.
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Telegraph Relay #20

Model: n/a
Serial: n/a
Date: Late 1800's to 1900 (1892)
Type: Main Line, with 2 horizontal coils
Manufacturer: J.H. Bunnell & Co., Inc.
Address: New York City, NY  U.S.A.
Designer: Jesse H. Bunnell
Contacts: 1/16" dia. silver
Frame: Brass
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Coil: 150-ohms, 3-6Vdc (40mA)
Hardware: Brass
Base: approx. 7-1/2"L x 4-1/4"W x 1/2"H wood on black, japanned, cast-iron, rectangular 
skirt: 8"L x 4-3/4"W x 5/8"H
Features: Cast-iron skirt.
Markings(location): Hand-written in black india ink on bottom of wood base:"150 Ohms  
10-20-92  Assoc Press".
Condition: Excellent
History: Used for American Landline Morse Telegraphy. Must have been used at the 
Associated Press in the late 1800's.
Comments: Normally connected directly to the Main Line.
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Telegraph Sounder #21

Model: n/a
Serial: n/a
Date: Early 1900's
Type: Main Line, with 2 vertical coils
Manufacturer: J.H. Bunnell & Co., Inc.
Address: New York City, NY  U.S.A.
Designer: Jesse H. Bunnell
Contacts: n/a
Frame: Brass
Arm: Aluminum lever 3-9/32"L with steel cross-arm
Coil: 20-ohms, 3-6Vdc (300mA)
Hardware: Brass
Base: approx. 5-5/8"L x 3"W x 5/16"H dark wood (mahogany), rectangular, and 3-
13/32"L x 2-11/64"W x 7/64"H brass, rectangular (3-1/2"H overall)
Features: 3 brass tacks for feet. No cast-iron skirt.
Markings(location): "20"(top of wood base), "PATENTED MAY 7 1895"(top of metal 
base), "PAT. NOV. 20 1883"(top of frame), "J.H.BUNNELL & CO.  NEW YORK 
U.S.A."(side of lever)
Condition: Fair (wooden base has one crack that has been glued)
History: Used for American Landline Morse Telegraphy.
Comments: Normally connected directly to the Main Line. Dot: 2 "klicks" close together. 
Dash: 2 "klicks" far apart, then a "kalunk".
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Keyer Paddle #22

Model: BY-1 (170-01)
Serial: n/a
Date: 1979  Production: 1975-present
Type: Iambic (Squeeze) dual-lever, Open-frame
Manufacturer: Bencher, Inc.
Address: 333 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL  60606  U.S.A.  (312)263-1808
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 5/32" dia. gold-plated solid silver
Frame: Nickel-plated
Arm: Nickel-plated
Paddle: 2 clear plexiglass, triangular
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 4"L x 3.75"W x 5/8"H black-texture enamelled steel, square
Features: Allen (hex) wrench included for adjustments.
Markings(location): "BENCHER  chicago"(top of base)
Condition: Excellent
History: Newer models have the paddles riveted onto each arm.
Comments: I still have the original box and papers. I also have a custom-made plexiglass 
dust cover for this key, with my callsign engraved on it. Key weighs 3 lb. Current address: 
831 North Central Avenue, Wood Dale, IL  60191  U.S.A.  (708)238-1183
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Keyer Paddle #23

Model: HAM-KEY HK-1
Serial: n/a
Date: 1975-1985
Type: Iambic (Squeeze) dual-lever, Open-frame
Manufacturer: Ham Radio Center, Inc.
Address: 8340-42 Olive Boulevard, P.O. Box 28271, St. Louis, MO  63132  U.S.A. 
(800)325-3636
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 1/4" dia. nickel
Frame: Red molded plastic: 1.8"L x 1.8"W x 1.1"H
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Paddle: 2 red molded plastic, oval
Hardware: Aluminum
Base: approx. 4"L x 3.5"W x 0.5"H black wrinkle-enamelled steel, rectangular
Features: 2 red and 1 black binding posts on base.
Markings(location): "HAM-KEY  Ham Radio Center, Inc.  St. Louis, MO."(top of base)
Condition: Good
History: CC-1 is a shielded cable with a 1/4" stereo plug for the HK-1, and sold for $4.49 
in 1979. The CC-1P was the same part in 1984, and sold for $2.00.
Comments: No longer made. Ham Radio Center is out of business.
Cleaning: Complete

Keyer Paddle #24

Model: n/a
Serial: n/a
Date: 1979
Type: Iambic (Squeeze) dual-lever, Open-frame
Manufacturer: Rob L. Dey  KA2BEO
Address: 45 J.F. Kennedy Blvd., Pine Beach, NJ  08741  U.S.A.
Designer: Rob L. Dey  KA2BEO
Contacts: 3/16" dia. brass
Frame: 2 1"L 6-32 stainless-steel machine screws
Arm: 2 solder-filled brass
Paddle: 2 clear plexiglass, triangular
Hardware: zinc-plated steel, and brass
Base: approx. 3"L x 3"W x 1/4"H clear plexiglass, square
Features: 4 rubber feet.
Markings(location): n/a
Condition: Good
History: Home-made by me from scrap parts around the garage when I was about 14 
years old. My home address has since changed (many times). Originally used pop-rivets 
for the contacts.
Comments: I still use this key. It's great for portable operation.
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Telegraph Key #25

Model: Mac-Key
Serial: #5172  (#5931 was dated 1936)
Date: September 1934 (1936, according to Tom French) Production: 1934-1955
Type: Semi-automatic (Bug, Speed key), Open-frame
Manufacturer: T. R. McElroy. Later, his company was called McElroy Manufacturing 
Corporation in the early 1940's. Another of his companies was called Telegraph 
Apparatus Co. Not Inc. in Chicago, IL.
Address: 82 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA  U.S.A.
Designer: Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt McElroy
Contacts: 3/16" dia. silver
Frame: 1-piece T-shaped yoke
Arm: Nickel-plated brass
Knob: 2 black phenolic, flat and triangular
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 6"L x 4"W x 1/2"H black, wrinkle-enamelled, Parkerized cast-iron, 
rectangular
Features: Tee-bar, which allows the key to be turned on its side and used as a straight key 
when the pendulum is secured with a rubber band. The T-shaped bar also functions as a 
convienent handle for carrying the key by two fingers.
Markings(location): Brass label: "T. R. McELROY'S, Mac keY, 5172, PAT. APPL'D 
FOR"(top of base), sand-casted text: "PAT APP FOR 1934, SEMI-AUMC TGH & RDO, 
CODE XTR, MAC KEY, 9-34, MFD AJD & GA BY T R McELROY, WLDS FASTEST 
RDO TGHR, Boston Mass"(bottom of base).
Condition: Excellent
History: A patent was applied for this key in 1934. The patent was not granted yet when 
this key was made. By 1938, Junior and Deluxe models were available besides the 
Standard model. Ted McElroy started manufacturing keys in 1934. This key was one of 
the first 200 off the production line, number 172. McElroy was a master of Morse code 
and promoted telegraphy most of his life. He could type over 150 WPM before graduating 
grade-school. By age 15, McElroy was a leading telegrapher (Wirechief) for Western 
Union. In 1922, he won the world championship in Asheville, NC by copying code at 56.5 
WPM. That record was beaten in 1934. So, he went back the following year (1935) and 
beat the world record again. On July 2, 1939, McElroy broke the world record code speed 
at 75.2 WPM, which remains unsurpassed today. T. R. McElroy was born in Boston, 
Massachusetts, and died in 1963.
Comments: L-style damper. All original parts with no modifications. No connections are 
made underneath the base. Two connections are made from the top of the key; one on the 
top of the tee-bar (chassis), and one on the insulated dot and dash contact support, which 
is one solid piece.
Cleaning: Needed

Telegraph Key #26

Model: J-45 (J-37 with KY-116/U leg clamp)
Serial: #66150 (not actually a serial number, but perhaps a model number of some type)
Date: Early to mid 1940's (World War II)
Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame mounted on a leg clamp
Manufacturer: Winslow Tele-tronics Inc.
Address: U.S.A.
Designer: U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Contacts: 5/32" dia. silver
Frame: approx. 3"L x 2"W x 1"H black phenolic, oval
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Knob: Standard, black phenolic, 1-1/8" dia.
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 3-1/2"L x 2"W x 1/16"Thk black-painted steel with hinged leg clamp 
approx. 5-1/8"L x 1-1/2"W x 1/16"Thk
Features: Cable clamp on right side of base. Black-painted steel leg clamp that folds up.
Markings(location): "J-37"(top of frame), "KY-116/U"(side of leg clamp), "WINSLOW 
TELE-TRONICS INC., 66150"(top of arm)
Condition: Excellent
History: Used for International (Continental, Universal) Wireless Morse Telegraphy.
Comments: Excellent for portable or mobile telegraphy.
Cleaning: Needed

Telegraph Sounder #27

Model: n/a
Serial: n/a
Date: Early 1900's
Type: Local, with 2 vertical coils
Manufacturer: J.H. Bunnell & Co., Inc.
Address: New York City, NY  U.S.A.
Designer: Jesse H. Bunnell
Contacts: n/a
Frame: Nickel-plated brass
Arm: Aluminum lever 3-9/32"L with steel cross-arm (armature)
Coil: 4-ohms, 3-6Vdc (1.5A)
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 5-1/2"L x 3"W x 11/32"H dark wood (mahogany), rectangular.
Features: 3 brass tacks for feet. No cast-iron skirt.
Markings(location): "4 OHMS, W. U. TEL. Co."(top of wood base), "J.H.BUNNELL & 
CO., NEW YORK U.S.A."(side of lever), a paper label (2-1/2"L x 1-3/4"W) partially 
remains on the bottom of the wooden base.
Condition: Poor (wooden base has one crack)
History: J.H. Bunnell & Co., Inc. made this sounder for the Western Union Telegraph 
Company. Used for American Landline Morse Telegraphy.
Comments: Normally connected to the Main Line through a telegraph relay, and a local 
"crow-foot" gravity cell (battery). Dot: 2 "klicks" close together. Dash: 2 "klicks" far 
apart, then a "kalunk". Coils are in very good condition. Interestingly, a fiber shoulder-
washer is tied onto the upward sound adjustment with cotton string, apparently to help 
quiet the sounder (and possibly to electrically insulate the lever from the frame). Also, the 
brass sounder plate (resonant base) was removed (and is missing) from the sounder, either 
to help quiet the sounder, or to modify it for use as a local relay. A small piece of wire was 
connected to the make-shift contact (the frame) below the wooden base.
Cleaning: Needed

Telegraph Key On Base (KOB) with Sounder #28

Model: Code Practice Set
Serial: n/a
Date: n/a
Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame (legless) on a code-practice base with a 20-ohm 
local sounder that contains 2 vertical coils.
Manufacturer: Manhattan Electric Supply Company (MESCO)
Address: n/a
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 1/16" dia. platinum
Frame: approx. 3"L x 2"W x 1"H, solid, bronze, oval
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Knob: Standard, black phenolic, 1-1/8" dia.
Hardware: Brass
Base: approx. 7-1/4"L x 4-1/2"W x 3/8"H wooden, rectangular
Features: 20-ohm local sounder, and two binding posts. 3 brass tacks for feet. Shorting 
switch on key. Wired with #24 AWG bare copper wire.
Markings(location): "MANHATTAN ELEC. SUPPLY CO., NEW YORK"(side of 
sounder lever, and top of key frame), "20 OHMS"(bottom of wood base), "103,  
3"(bottom of key frame).
Condition: Fair
History: This type of KOB has been around since the mid 1800's and was very popular 
among beginner Radio Amateurs.
Comments: This KOB needs some repair work to be functional.
Cleaning: Needed on sounder. (Cleaning is complete on key and wood base)

Telegraph Key On Base (KOB) with Buzzer #29

Model: Signal R-68 Wireless Practice Set
Serial: n/a
Date: after 1930
Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame (legless) on a code-practice base with buzzer
Manufacturer: Signal Electric Manufacturing Company
Address: Menominee, MI  U.S.A.
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 1/16" dia. platinum
Frame: approx. 3"L x 2"W x 1"H, black-enamelled cast-iron, oval
Arm: Black-anodized steel
Knob: Standard, black phenolic, 1-1/8" dia.
Hardware: Brass
Base: approx. 7"L x 4-1/2"W x 1/2"H wooden, rectangular
Features: Buzzer with a round black wrinkle-enamelled metal cover 1.25"H x 1.75" dia., 
and three binding posts. Sports four hard-rubber feet.
Markings(location): "SIGNAL"(top of buzzer cover), brass label (1-7/8"L x 1"W) with 
entire "INTERNATIONAL CODE"
Condition: Excellent (like new with box)
History: This type of KOB has been around since the late 1800's and was very popular 
among beginner Radio Amateurs. This company has had four different names that all had 
the Menominee, Michigan address: Menominee Electric Mfg. Co.(1930's), Signal Electric 
Co., Signal Electric Mfg. Co., Standard Electric Mfg. Co. Signal also made and labelled 
this "Learning Set" for schools such as R.C.A. Institutes Inc. and Radio Institutes of 
America, both located in New York, NY.
Comments: All parts and the box are original, and not modified in any way.
Cleaning: Needed

Telegraph Key #30

Model: #CMI-26003A, Part: #RH16K1250, Stock: #(L) 16-K-2305
Serial: n/a
Date: March 1955
Type: Straight (Hand key), Closed-frame (flameproof)
Manufacturer: Molded Insulation Co.
Address: Philadelphia, PA  U.S.A.
Designer: U.S. Signal Corps.
Contacts: unknown
Frame: approx. 2.7"L x 1.6"W x 1.0"H black wrinkle-enamalled alloy(pot metal), 
rectangular
Arm: Black wrinkle-enamelled aluminum
Knob: Navy, black phenolic
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 2.250"L x 1.875"W x 0.125"H black wrinkle-enamelled aluminum, 
rectangular
Features: No shorting switch.
Markings(location):
Condition: Mint (Unused)
History: This is the most common U.S. military flameproof key, which was made by many 
manufacturers during World War II.
Comments: This key was NOS (new original stock) in the box and sealed in its foil 
wrapper. The wrapping material was dated: August 1953. I opened the package on 
12/02/1996. The actual key was manufactured in March 1955, according to the package.
Cleaning: Complete

Telegraph Key On Base (KOB) with Buzzer #31

Model: Speed-X Practice Set #450 (114-450)
Serial: n/a
Date: 1947-1967
Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame on a code-practice base with buzzer
Manufacturer: E.F. Johnson Co.
Address: Waseca, MN  U.S.A.
Designer: Les Logan
Contacts: 1/8" dia. silver
Frame: Nickel-plated brass
Arm: Nickel-plated steel
Knob: Standard, brown phenolic (moulded Bakelite), 1-1/8" dia.
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 6"L x 3-7/8"W x 11/32"H brown phenolic (moulded Bakelite), rectangular
Features: Constant-frequency, adjustable buzzer (3.0-4.5Vdc, 2-ohms) like #400 (114-
400) with silver contacts. Two mounting holes, and three binding posts. The round brown 
phenolic cover 1.25"H x 1.75" dia. is missing from the buzzer.
Markings(location): "SPEED-X"(top of arm), "MODEL, 450, PRACTICE, SET, 
SPEED-X, E.F. JOHNSON CO., WASECA, MINN."(top of base - center), "BATTERY, 
BUZZER, KEY"(top of base - near binding posts).
Condition: Excellent (missing brown phenolic buzzer cover)
History: This type of KOB was very popular among beginner Radio Amateurs. The 
following dates, company names, and addresses show some of the history behind this key. 
(1) 1926-1929, Les Logan Company (Owned by Les Logan), 646 Jessie Street, San 
Francisco, California, USA (no zip code). (2) 1930-1941, Speed-X Radio Manufacturing 
Company (Owned by Les Logan). (3) 1942-1946, Speed-X Manufacturing Company 
(Owned by Les Logan). (4) 1947-1967, E.F. Johnson Company, 224 Second Avenue 
Southwest, Waseca, Minnesota, USA. (5) 1969-date, Wm. M. Nye Company (This 
company never offered a code practice set).
Comments: Originally, a standard "Code" card was supplied with each individually-packed 
unit. Buzzer operates on two (series-connected) dry cells (1.5Vdc each) or one "C" 
battery (4.5Vdc) (This is different from a "C" cell). An extra hole was drilled between the 
"KEY" terminals for a cable or wires to enter the base. This is a convenient place for 
mounting a strain-relief cable clamp. Net weight is 12oz.
Cleaning: Complete

Telegraph Key #32

Model: K-1
Serial: n/a
Date: 1995
Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame (legless)
Manufacturer: Ameco Corporation (Importer and distributor)
Address: 224 East Second Street, Mineola, NY  11501  U.S.A.  (516)741-5030
Designer: n/a
Contacts: 5/32" dia. nickel-plated
Frame: approx. 1.2"L x 0.4"W x 0.6"H U-shaped, zinc-plated steel
Arm: Nickel-plated
Knob: Standard, black plastic (concave top), 1-1/8" dia.
Hardware: Nickel-plated brass
Base: approx. 3"L x 2"W x 1"H black plastic, rectangular
Features: Shorting switch and ball-bearing pivots.
Markings(location): "Japan" and "1"(bottom of frame)
Condition: Excellent
History: This low-cost key has been very popular among new Radio Amateurs. The 
Ameco #K-1 is identical to the previously offered Radio Shack "Skillman Jr.". Lafayette 
and E.F. Johnson also carried this key without a name.
Comments: Bakelite style base.
Cleaning: Satisfactory

Telegraph Key Toy #33

Model: Part of "School Boy Built" Kit - Flashlight
Serial: n/a
Date: 1994
Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame (switch)
Manufacturer: for Educational Kits' Fan in the World Wide
Address: Japan
Designer: n/a
Contacts: Tin
Frame: Tin
Arm: Tin
Knob: Red molded plastic
Hardware: None
Base: Blue molded plastic
Features: None
Markings(location): None
Condition: Excellent (New)
History: None
Comments: This is a switch for an educational flashlight kit that teaches about basic series 
and parallel circuits using light bulbs and two "D-cell" batteries.
Cleaning: Complete

Telegraph Key #34

Model:
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Address:
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Contacts:
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Arm:
Knob:
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Base:
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Comments:
Cleaning: