Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. 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. 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.
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 moves this key’s lever from side to side to make signals. Called a simplex-duplex key, this key can send messages either on one-way circuits (simplex) or on circuits designed to send messages on lines designed to carry two messages at once (duplex.)
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. One knob is missing from this specimen.
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 received disassembled and has a switch on the side called a circuit-closer that takes the key off-line when not in use.
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 US Navy telegraph key was designed and built by the Navy for wireless communication from ships. Until recently, “wireless” meant radio and operators used keys to send radio messages via Morse code.
Semi-automatic keys (commonly called "bugs") like this "American 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.
There are two labels on this key. Label 1 is stamped: "The Original American Vibroplex Sold & Guaranteed by King & Co.,Cincinnati,O." Label 2 is molded: "This machine is licensed but NOT guaranteed NOR manufactured by J. E. Albright 253 Broadway, New York No. 223 W.U.T.Co."
King & Company produced this key under license from a company that worked with Horace Martin, inventor of the "Vibroplex" semi-automatic key. Albright acted as licensor for Martin and collected a $2 fee from the Western Union operator to permit use of this key. #223 is the license number, not the key serial number. The donor identified this and key 1985.0885.02 as "two 'bugs' my father used as a telegrapher for Western Union and various railroads. ... he was working at that profession in the 1920s".
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.
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 key was used to apply a charge then remove the charge from a submarine cable to make certain the circuit worked.
Test "Rymer-Tones Key". Two single-pole sweep switches mounted on a hard rubber base. Stamped: "Muirhead & Co. Ltd. / No. 39354". Key is similar to the type described on pages 253-254 of "Submarine Cable Laying and Repairing" by H. D. Wilkinson.
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.
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.
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 is referred to as a camelback due to the curved design of the lever.
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 pendulum or springs to quickly make and break contact in the electrical circuit. The operator still makes the dashes manually.
Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send coded messages that travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. This British “thumb key” was designed for use on underwater telegraph cables. Typical telegraph keys turn the current on and off in the line. This double-current key keeps the battery on the line and reverses the direction of the current flow when the operator presses down on the lever. Setting the small lever to “receive” sends the current to a separate relay instead of through the main section of the key.
India-rubber, Gutta-percha, and Telegraph Works Company
ID Number
EM.331793
accession number
294351
collector/donor number
03-41
catalog number
331793
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.
This experimental semi-automatic telegraph key was judged a failure by William Fluharty of Western Union. This design made it "impossible to split dots or crowd signals," rendering the message garbled.
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. A semi-automatic telegraph key allows an operator to send 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.
Telegraph keys are electrical on-off switches used to send messages in Morse code. 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. This key came to the Western Union with its original carrying case.
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 is a very early strap key used by Joseph Henry in experiments made at the Smithsonian.
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 L. S. Brach Company, 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.
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.