Communications

WANN Microphone

Tools of communication have transformed American society time and again over the past two centuries. The Museum has preserved many instruments of these changes, from printing presses to personal digital assistants.

The collections include hundreds of artifacts from the printing trade and related fields, including papermaking equipment, wood and metal type collections, bookbinding tools, and typesetting machines. Benjamin Franklin is said to have used one of the printing presses in the collection in 1726.

More than 7,000 objects chart the evolution of electronic communications, including the original telegraph of Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell's early telephones. Radios, televisions, tape recorders, and the tools of the computer age are part of the collections, along with wireless phones and a satellite tracking system.

Topic: Telegraph Keys

Semi-automatic Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic key repeated the Morse code dots rapidly, much like holding down a key on a keyboard for repeated letters. The operator still keyed the dashes but could work much faster.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic key repeated the Morse code dots rapidly, much like holding down a key on a keyboard for repeated letters. The operator still keyed the dashes but could work much faster. The Mecograph Company created a right-angle semi-automatic telegraph key around 1906. They competed with Horace Martin's Vibroplex Company until Martin purchased Mecograph in 1914.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1908
associated date
1906
maker
Mecograph Company
ID Number
EM.320012
catalog number
320012
accession number
243907

Semi-automatic Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic telegraph key like this one allows an operator to send land-line and wireless (radio) telegraph messages at a much faster rate than with an ordinary key.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic telegraph key like this one allows an operator to send land-line and wireless (radio) telegraph messages at a much faster rate than with an ordinary key. The key automatically produces rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum or springs to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator still makes the dashes manually.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Western Union Corporation
ID Number
EM.331683
accession number
294351
collector/donor number
100-059
catalog number
331683

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send messages in code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. This British key was designed for testing underwater telegraph cables.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send messages in code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. This British key was designed for testing underwater telegraph cables. The operator used the key to apply a charge then remove the charge from the cable to make certain the circuit worked. One handle is missing from this specimen.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Muirhead & Co. Ltd.
ID Number
EM.336823
catalog number
336823
accession number
1978.2346

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use. The knob is missing from this object.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1915
maker
Western Electric
ID Number
EM.331835
accession number
294351
catalog number
331835

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key was an early refinement on Alfred Vail's original lever key.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1845
maker
Vail, Alfred
ID Number
EM.181412
catalog number
181412
accession number
31652

Wireless Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. This wireless telegraph key features a large disc on the knob to protect against the accidental shock.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. This wireless telegraph key features a large disc on the knob to protect against the accidental shock. Until recently, “wireless” meant radio and early wireless equipment often used high voltages.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
L. S. Brach Manufacturing Co.
ID Number
EM.314136
catalog number
314136
accession number
195337

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator moved the lever on this so-called "double speed key" from side to side to make signals.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator moved the lever on this so-called "double speed key" from side to side to make signals. This key has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use.
Hand telegraph key with control knob arranged on a spring for side-ways motion. Contact points are on either side of key bar. A line switch is included on the base. Maker claims operators of this style key will not be affected by cramp. Reference: J. H. Bunnell & Co. Catalog, 1918, page 4.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1918
maker
J. H. Bunnell & Co.
ID Number
EM.320857
catalog number
320857
accession number
241556

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use.
This key shows a special set of contact wheels that are designed to prevent sticking of the contacts due to dirt or corrosion. The technique was disclosed in two 1882 US patents: 256645 issued to George Cummings, and 256646 issued to Cummings and Clara Brinkerhoff.
Location
Currently on loan
date made
1881
maker
L. G. Tillotson & Co.
ID Number
EM.221144
catalog number
221144
accession number
41460

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send coded messages that travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Due to special difficulties in sending pulses through long underwater cables, so-called double-current keys were used.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send coded messages that travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Due to special difficulties in sending pulses through long underwater cables, so-called double-current keys were used. Instead of the short dots and long dashes of land-line telegraphs, submarine telegraphs sent positive pulses and negative pulses that made the receiver move right or left. The operator pressed one lever on the key to send a positive pulse and another to send a negative pulse. The code consisted of the sequence of left and right movements recorded on a paper tape.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Foote, Pierson & Co.
ID Number
EM.329942
accession number
283729
catalog number
329942

Semi-automatic Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic telegraph key like this one allows an operator to send land-line and wireless (radio) telegraph messages at a much faster rate than with an ordinary key.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic telegraph key like this one allows an operator to send land-line and wireless (radio) telegraph messages at a much faster rate than with an ordinary key. The key automatically produces rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator still makes the dashes manually.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Western Union Corporation
ID Number
EM.331994
serial number
3223
collector/donor number
72-23
accession number
294351
catalog number
331994

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use.
date made
ca 1910
ID Number
2013.3040.08
nonaccession number
2013.3040
catalog number
2013.3040.08

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The sequence and duration of pulses represent letters and numbers.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The sequence and duration of pulses represent letters and numbers. This patent model shows Martin Wessmann's design for an automatic key. His idea involved a key for each letter, number and character, somewhat like a piano keyboard. Each key included a circuit breaker controlled by gearing so that the pulses were generated at a regular speed. That prevented operators from blurring the message.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1873
maker
Wessmann, Martin F.
ID Number
EM.308872
catalog number
308872
accession number
89797
patent number
142826

Handmade Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic key or "bug" repeated the Morse code dots rapidly. The operator still keyed the dashes but could work much faster.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic key or "bug" repeated the Morse code dots rapidly. The operator still keyed the dashes but could work much faster. This semi-automatic key was hand-made by an American soldier in early 1944. The catalog card from Western Union reported: "Bug made by Corporal Julian N. Jablin while on the Anzio Beachead [sic]. It was made of scrap brass from a shell case, plastic from a German plane that had been shot down and hardware from an Italian clock. It was actually used in radio communication until the operator on the other end told Cpl. Jablin to change to his left foot."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944
maker
Jablin, Julian N.
ID Number
EM.331323
accession number
294351
collector/donor number
100-049
catalog number
331323

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send coded messages that travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Due to special difficulties in sending pulses through long underwater cables, so-called double-current keys were used.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send coded messages that travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Due to special difficulties in sending pulses through long underwater cables, so-called double-current keys were used. Instead of the short dots and long dashes of land-line telegraphs, submarine telegraphs sent positive pulses and negative pulses that made the receiver move right or left. The operator pressed one lever on the key to send a positive pulse and another to send a negative pulse. The code consisted of the sequence of left and right movements recorded on a paper tape.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
maker
E. S. Greeley & Company
ID Number
EM.331462
accession number
294351
collector/donor number
03-42
catalog number
331462

Wireless Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. This wireless telegraph key features a large micarta disc on the knob to protect against the danger of accidental shock.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. This wireless telegraph key features a large micarta disc on the knob to protect against the danger of accidental shock. Until recently, “wireless” meant radio and early wireless equipment often used high voltages.
Location
Currently not on view
associated institution
Bureau of Standards
ID Number
EM.313506
catalog number
313506
accession number
188571
collector/donor number
R-2230

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key was made as a scarf pin but is fully functional and could send messages.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
Ways, C. I.
ID Number
EM.313155
catalog number
313155
accession number
177205

Semi-automatic Telegraph Key

Semi-automatic keys like this one automatically produced rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit.
Description (Brief)
Semi-automatic keys like this one automatically produced rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator would make the dashes manually but could send much faster than with an ordinary key.
Electric Specialty Manufacturing Company produced this key under license from a company that worked with Horace Martin, inventor of "Vibroplex" semi-automatic key.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Electric Specialty Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1985.0885.02
accession number
1985.0885
catalog number
1985.0885.02

Telegraph Key Patent Model

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The sequence and duration of pulses represent letters and numbers.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The sequence and duration of pulses represent letters and numbers. This patent model shows Lucien Crandall's design for an automatic key. His idea involved a key for each letter, number and character, set on a frame like a typewriter. Each key included a ratcheted wheel with conducting and insulated segments around the edge. When the operator pressed a key, the wheel rotated and generated morse code pulses at a regular speed. His goal was to permit operators to send messages, "with greater rapidity, uniformity, and certainty than with the common telegraphic key."
Note: the US Patent Office tag for this model misspells the inventor's name: Randall instead of Crandall.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1875
maker
Crandall, Lucien S.
ID Number
EM.308883
catalog number
308883
accession number
89797
patent number
168144

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send messages in code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. This British key was designed for testing underwater telegraph cables.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send messages in code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. This British key was designed for testing underwater telegraph cables. The operator used the key to apply a charge then remove the charge from the cable to make certain the circuit worked.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Muirhead & Co. Ltd.
ID Number
EM.336822
catalog number
336822
accession number
1978.2346

Flame-proof Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. Flame-proof telegraph keys, like this one made by General Radio, were designed to contain the spark within a sealed chamber.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code and can spark when the circuit opens. Flame-proof telegraph keys, like this one made by General Radio, were designed to contain the spark within a sealed chamber. These keys were necessary on early aircraft and in confined spaces such as aboard ships and submarines where the spark might ignite flammable gasses. Stamped on cover of this unit: "Airplane / Flame-Proof Radio Key / Type CAG-1169 Made for Navy Department / BU.of S.E. / General Radio Co. / Cambridge Mass." The knob is missing from this specimen.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1918
maker
General Radio Company
ID Number
2013.0030.02
catalog number
2013.0030.02
accession number
65022

Vibroplex Telegraph Key

Semi-automatic keys like this "Vibroplex" automatically produced rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator would make the dashes manually but could send much faster than with an ordinary key.
Description (Brief)
Semi-automatic keys like this "Vibroplex" automatically produced rapid morse code dots by using a weighted pendulum to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator would make the dashes manually but could send much faster than with an ordinary key. Operators often purchased their own keys. This unit belonged to Western Union operator F. L. Currie.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1919
maker
Vibroplex Company, Inc.
ID Number
EM.311058
catalog number
311058
accession number
136987

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. This key has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use. The straight lever was used in the mid nineteenth century. This key was used in the 1870s on the Railroad Overland Telegraph Line.
date made
1869
ID Number
EM.231787
catalog number
231787
accession number
43532

Auxiliary Hand Sending Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. Until recently, “wireless” meant radio and this auxiliary hand sending key was made for US Navy by Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company in 1918.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. Until recently, “wireless” meant radio and this auxiliary hand sending key was made for US Navy by Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company in 1918. The key could handle power ratings of 2000 watts, alternating current.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
maker
Wireless Specialty Apparatus Co.
ID Number
EM.327934
catalog number
327934
accession number
268822

Telegraph Key

Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire.
Description (Brief)
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. The operator pushes the key’s lever down briefly to make a short signal, a dot, or holds the lever down for a moment to make a slightly longer signal, a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. The straight lever was used in the mid nineteenth century.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1870
ID Number
2013.3040.10
nonaccession number
2013.3040
catalog number
2013.3040.10

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