 | There are a couple of items in the manual telegraphy collection
that have their original boxes. It is very unusual to come across items like this! Pictured here is a Signal Co.
telegraph sounder with its original box. |
 | This is a another Signal Co. item, a 4 ohm telegraph relay with
its original box. |
 | There is also a Navy key with its original box in the collection.
This is labeled "One N.A.F. No. 213235-2 KEY, TRANSMITTING -- ASSEMBLY Manufactured by Telephonics Corporation, N.Y.
for U.S. Navy." From the contract number on the box, it looks like it was made in 1956. |
 | Here's another brand-new military key, though without its original box.
I don't have any numbers for this item, but it is perhaps for a field or airborne radio since it has the straps to tie it
onto the leg of the radio operator. |
 | This is an interesting item, a telegraph test set of some kind.
It appears to have been manufactured by Western Electric since it contains a WE key and sounder. There is a milliammeter on the
front of the unit and looks like it could be mounted on a rack. It originally came with some plug-in cords that were hopelessly
rotted. The rest of the unit is in fine shape, however. |
 | This is a Western Union telegraph call box, manufactured by the T.A. Edison Company. It is a clockwork mechanism
device that, when activated by turning the knob above the words "Western Union," pulses out a predetermined code which would have been sent to the local
telegraph office. Upon receiving the coded signal, the telegraph office would know which location
desired service and would dispatch a messenger to that location. |
 | This is a similar call box, made for the competing Postal Telegraph Company.
This box was manufactured by the D.S. Plumb Company of Newark, NJ, but the internal components look very similar to the WU call box
made by the Edison Company. Note the external screw terminals at the top of this box. The electrical connections for the
Western Union box are all internal. The three screw terminals and the internal configuration of the Postal call box allow
it to be used on either open or closed signalling circuits. This call box is missing the original knob. Anyone have one?? |
 | This is a Western Electric telegraph sounder and stand. The triangular box at the
top of the stand allows the sounder's output, if you will, be directed towards the telegraph operator. Many operators would
further enhance this sound by wedging a Prince Albert tobacco can between the sounder and the back of the hood. The empty can added
further resonance to the sounder, allowing it to be heard over other noises in the telegraph office or railroad agent's office.
The base and stem of the stand is very much the same as a Western Electric candlestick telephone. |
