A Key on Board, or KOB, consisted of a telegraph key and a telegraph sounder mounted on a single wooden board. KOBs have been produced since telegraphy began in the 1850s. They were originally used for operator training and practice and they were also used as a telegraph operator’s toolkit that a telegrapher used from job to job.
 | J.H. Bunnell Camerback Key on Board and Sounder: This is probably the oldest key in my collection. It was made somewhere between 1878 and 1880. It is a camelback key that predates the more modern triumph lever key. |
 | Signal Electric Company Key on Board with Buzzer: A Key On Board that was manufactured by the Signal Electric Mfg. Co. Menominee, Michigan, probably in the 1920s or 1930s. The key has a triumph lever key and it includes a vertical spring sounder with "MENOMINEE"stamped its arm. This KOB has a buzzer attached on the left side that was probably used for code practice. The number "4" stamped into wood base indicating 4 ohms. |
 | Signal Electric Company Key on Board: This is another KOB with a sounder. Its wood base is approx 7 1/2" by 5," It has an oval shaped steel key with brass components and black base with a black knob. The sounder has two vertical coils with exposed wires. A painted diamond type design is also on the key base. "20 ohms" is stamped on bottom of the base. This is probably another Signal Electric KOB since MENOMINEE is stamped on the sounder arm. |
 | Western Electric KOB with Barclay Box "Snare Drum" Sounder: This Key on Board has an oval shaped, brass triumph lever key with two horizontal relay coils. Its unusual feature is the wooden block or "snare drum." A contact is attached to the coils that hits the block to amplify the sound making it very efficient at amplifying the sound. It was made for Western Electric Company by J. H Bunnell & Co. |
 | J.H. Bunnell Key on Board and Sounder: This KOB has an oval shaped steel key with a steel triumph lever. It also has brass hardware and black base with a black knob. The vertical sounder has two vertical coils. It is unusual with its two brass terminal strips on the top of the Board. "J. H. Bunnell & Co. New York U.S.A." is stamped on the sounder's arm. From K1FUG. |
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