Harold R. Kramer, Amateur Radio Station WJ1B  - Commercial Telegraph Keys

Collection Info Amateur Keys Bugs and Paddles Commercial Keys International McElroy Keys Memorabilia Toy Keys Unique Keys US Military

Western Union Sign Commercial Land Line and Wire line Telegraph Keys:

These electrical telegraph keys were used by the commercial land-line (wire) and radio telegraphy services including Western Union and AT&T.
Chas. Cory and Sons Legless 2-A Western Union Key Chas. Cory and Sons Legless 2-A Western Union Key:

     This key was used by Western Union (W.U.) for use in landline telegraphy. It is an oval shaped solid brass straight key with a black standard knob and a shorting bar on the left. It is mounted on wooden board as received. The rear of the key is marked: “Legless 2-A W.U. Tel. Co.” The shorting bar is marked: “Chas. Cory and Son.” Chas. Cory was a major manufacturer of keys and other communications instruments located in New York, New York.

Joseph Bunnell Company Model 6B Miniature Key Joseph Bunnell Company Model 6B Miniature Key:

   This Model 6B is one of the smallest actual operating straight keys. It was made by Bunnell Co. for Western Electric. It is about 2" long. It was used in telegraphy test gear in multiples of four for meter bridge testing. This key was built in the early 60's, and spent its life in the Gila Bend, Arizona.

Spies Electric Works Polechanger Key Spies Electric Works Polechanger Key 1-B Western Union Telegraph Company:

  This is a Spies Polechanger Key, made by Spies Electric Works in Chicago, and used by Western Union for testing telegraph lines. The lever is made of steel and the key has a heavy duty black plastic base. There is a three position switch on right of selects the polarity of the line, hence the name, Polechanger.

Signal Electric Company Model R-63 Straight Key:

Signal Electric Company Model R-63 Standard Wireless Straight Key:

    This heavy duty brass key was called the "Standard Wireless Key". A large number of keys with this design were made from the 1920's to the 1970s. They were originally designed for keying high current primaries of spark transmitters. The contacts seem to be the 1/4" which makes this the model R-63. The key's base is embossed with the following text: SIGNAL ELECTRIC MFG, CO. MENOMINEE, MICH.

Railroad Key Wood and Brass Railroad Straight Key:

A wood base, brass straight key that is approx 5" x 2” 3/4". The letters "GELB" are stamped or cut into the base. The lever has a brass mounting bracket and brass binding posts. It has an unconventional contact arrangement with the tension adjustment acting as electrical contact. This key is very unusual and is probably a pre-1900 key. Tom Perera’s site dates it around 1881.

Oval Straight Key with Legs Unknown Manufacturer Oval Straight Key with Legs:

    A straight Key with a triumph lever. It has a brass body and legs with a brass shorting bar, steel lever and a black plastic knob. It has two "legs" that extend downward with threads and wing nuts for mounting on a table. The "legs" are also the electrical terminals. These were professional keys often used by railroads or newspapers.