Harold Kramer/WJ1B

McElroy Keys

Here are some McElroy keys and related items from my collection. McElroy keys were manufactured in Massachusetts by T.R. McElroy who billed himself as the world’s fastest telegrapher. Many McElroy telegraph keys are distinguished by their unique teardrop shop and fine craftmanship.

A McElroy Chrome Stream Key manufactured by T.R."Ted" McElroy. This is an Amateur Model 100 with a chrome teardrop finish. It has a chrome steel triumph lever with a black knob and shorting bar. This is still a great looking and great performing key.  This chrome key was purchased from the estate of W7OIO (Butte, MT) and it has his call (in pencil) on its underside. It is one of my favorites.

This is a 1938 Mac-Key. This semi-automatic mechanical bug is distinguished by the black "U" shaped bar that supports the contacts.  This key has the factory standard black crackle finish paint.  It was built in Boston, Mass.   It is in near perfect condition I obtained it from the estate of my friend, fellow key collector and author, Dave Ingram K4TWJ, SK. (Also listed under "bugs"). Enlarge

A McElroy tear drop shaped Model 100 Stream Key with an unusual gray plastic base and a steel Triumph lever. The gray plastic base is labeled: "Stream Key Manufactured by T.R. McElroy, Boston Mass U.S.A.” In the rear of the key, the label reads: "Radio Telegraph Transmitting Key." This key was probably manufactured around 1941.

McElroy Model 200 Stream Key with Black Crackle Base:

Another tear drop shaped T.R. McElroy Stream Key but with the more common black crackle base. This is a Model 200 that was probably manufactured between 1940 and 1943.These Stream Keys are sought after by collectors because of Ted McElroy's personality and his accomplishments. 

  This rather unattractive key was one of the earliest McElroy straight keys. It was called the Mac Straight Key and it debuted in 1937. It was made on a heavy cast iron rectangular base and could be bought with or without the mechanical oscillator or “Hummer" that was mounted on the three holes at the back of the key’s base. 

This is a copy of a McElroy Stream Key made out of zinc or "pot metal" often referred to as a “fake” McElroy. Some collectors believe that these were actually made by McElroy to fulfill a contract for the Signal Corps during WWII. Who knows? 

This is not a McElroy key, but it sure looks like one with its teardrop shape. I believe that this is a Grimmer Wilson key that was made in Canada and used by the RCAF. It has a steel lever and pivot pins like a McElroy but lacks the shorting bar and conductive strips on the top of the key.

This is, reputedly, a McElroy Stream Key Model 100 with the front of the base cut off to accommodate mounting in a McElroy Oscillatone Code Practice Oscillator. Telegraphic Apparatus Company was a McElroy subsidiary created to meet demand when the main manufacturing plants were busy with work for the US Signal Corps.

From Artifax Books: "Ted McElroy, world champion telegrapher during the 1920s and 30s, created his famous Chart of Codes in 1943. It was printed on a cloth backing and measured 25 by 38 inches.