Fire Alarm Telegraph

As early as the mid-1840s, telegraph systems were being used in large cities to transmit locations of fires and coordinate fire responses. These systems used keys, relays, and registers, much like the Morse telegraph systems we are familiar with. However, they were not used to send Morse Code messages, but rather they sent simple codes to identify the location in the city in which a fire was occurring.

The largest company making fire alarm telegraph equipment was the Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co, formed in 1879 by John N. Gamewell. Other companies include Conrad-Young (Baltimore), Utica Fire Alarm Co, Western Electric, and JH Bunnell.

Many fire alarm keys have camelback style levers, which fool many beginning collectors into thinking the keys are very old, when in fact they were most likely made in the very late 19th to early 20th century.

Other than the camelback style levers, other attributes that are common to fire alarm keys are:

• Very stiff spring. Fire alarm keys were not designed to send Morse Code messages all day. They were instead used to send short codes to identify fire locations; hence, comfort of the operator was not a concern. The stiff spring would help prevent the key from being accidentally pressed and sending out a code inadvertently.
• Normally closed contacts. A typical Morse Code key has a set of contacts that are normally open and are then closed during the act of sending a message. With fire alarm keys, the contacts are normally closed and then are opened during the act of sending fire codes. The reason is that it is much easier to open a set of contacts than to close one. If the fire alarm system relied on having to close the contacts to send a message, and there was any dirt or crud on the contacts, it could prevent the correct code from being sent. Hence, it is a reliability issue.

Fire alarm relays are also unique in appearance. Many have multiple contacts or multiple “legs” protruding from the bottom of table-mounted relays. Some have heavy brass bases rather than wooden bases. Others have a bell (called a Gong) attached to a post on the base so an incoming signal can be heard.

Below are some pictures of fire alarm keys, relays, and registers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Click on each thumbnail to view the full size image:

 

Very Early Camelback Fire Alarm Key by Palmer & Hall, Boston. Ca. Late 1840's	Front View of the Palmer & Hall Fire Alarm Key	Another View of the Palmer & Hall Key Showing the Name Stamp	Camelback Fire Alarm Key by Gamewell. Key Mounts Vertically on the Wall
Another Wall-Mounted Fire Alarm Key. Maker Unknown	Another Unknown Maker Wall-Mounted Fire Alarm Key	Camelback Fire Alarm Key by Conrad Young, Baltimore, Maryland	Fire Alarm Key With Locking Lever to Prevent Accidental Keying. Possibly Made by Western Electric
Fire Alarm Key by Western Electric. Similar Style As the Lewis Key	A Miniature Western Electric Fire Alarm Key	Unusual Fire Alarm Camelback Key. Maker Unknown	Close-Up of the Upper Part of the Key
A German Fire Alarm Key by Siemens & Halske	A Front View of the Siemens & Halske Fire Alarm Key Showing the Small Lever to Lock the Key in the Closed Position	Unknown Maker Camelback Fire Alarm Key	Fire Alarm Relay by Gamewell
Another Gamewell Fire Alarm Relay	Ornate Fire Alarm Relay by Western Electric	Another View of the Western Electric Fire Alarm Relay	Gamewell Fire Alarm Relay & Gong
Another Gamewell Fire Alarm Relay & Gong	Fire Alarm Relay & Gong by U.S. Fire and Police Telegraph Co.	Close-Up of the U.S. Fire & Police Telegraph Name	Fire Alarm Key, Gong, and Relay by Conrad Young, Baltimore Maryland
Another Fire Alarm Key, Gong, and Relay. Maker Unknown	Another View of the Key, Gong, and Relay Showing the Tiny Key	Fire Alarm Box Relay and Key by Western Electric	Another View of the Western Electric Fire Alarm Box Relay Set
The Underside of the Western Electric Box Relay Showing the Connection Posts	Fire Alarm Register by Gamewell	Close-Up of the Gamewell Nameplate	Another Gamewell Fire Alarm Register
Close-Up of the Gamewell Nameplate	Close-Up of the Clockwork Mechanism	A Gamewell Fire Alarm Call Box	Another View of the Gamewell Fire Alarm Call Box
Fire Alarm Pen Register by JH Bunnell, NY	Bunnell Pen Register Nameplate	Early Fire Alarm Repeater by Gamewell	Another Gamewell Fire Alarm Repeater in a Glass Case
The Same Fire Alarm Repeater Removed From the Case	A Very Complex Gamewell Fire Alarm Repeater	Another Very Complex Gamewell Fire Alarm Repeater	An Interesting Round-Base Fire Alarm Register by Gaynor Electric Co, Louisville, KY
	Another View of the Gaynor Fire Alarm Register	A Close-Up of the Gaynor Nameplate

 

 

 

Questions or comments?

You can reach me at telegraphdude@comcast.net