The Japanese made a number of very interesting telegraph keys. Most of the early postal style keys look very similar to the keys used in Great Britain. WW2 saw some more unusual designs, such as miniature keys and flameproof keys.
Most of the keys made prior to and during the war had nameplates written entirely in Japanese. Examples of these can be seen in the pictures below. One interesting thing about the Japanese nameplates is that they used a different dating system on their keys.
Rather than having a date like 8-42 (August 1942) for example, they recorded the date according to the era of the current Emperor. The period from 1926-1989 is called the Showa Era. So, a key made in 1942 will be stamped "Showa 17" (in Japanese of course).
Before Showa was the Taisho Era from 1912-1926. Keys from this period are pretty rare.
Before Taisho was the Meiji Era, which ran from 1868-1912. Although this was the time period when Japan began to modernize, telegraph instruments from this period are extremely rare. The only example I have seen is a boxed set consisting of this Key and Register made by Oki Electric in 1890 (Meiji 23)
Following the war, Japanese keys began to use English writing on their nameplates or a combination of English & Japanese. This is a good way to identify keys made after the war, as some post-war keys do have an older look to them. During the 1950's and beyond, companies like Dentsuseiki (later called Hi-Mound) became an important maker of keys for amateur radio use.
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| An Early Japanese Double Current Key From the Taisho Era by Chugai Kogyojou. September, 1919 (Taisho 8) |
Close-up of the Chugai Kogyojou Nameplate. Key Also has Elliott Brothers London Markings so was Likely Made in England and Re-sold by a Japanese Company. |
Underside of the Chugai Kogyojou Double Current Key |
Early Japanese Postal Key. Nameplate Removed. |
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| Postal Key Made by Murakami Denki. March, 1928 (Showa 3) |
Murakami Nameplate |
Early Japanese Postal Key by Anritsu Electric. June, 1934 (Showa 9) |
Anritsu Nameplate |
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| Japanese Double-Current Style Key. Daiichi Musen Denki, Tokyo. May, 1933 (Showa 8) |
Top View of the Daiichi Musen Key |
Close-Up of the Daiichi Musen Nameplate |
Anritsu Electric Model PK-1 Hand Key. Date Unknown |
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| Anritsu PK-1 Nameplate |
Another Version of the Anritsu PK-1 Key |
Close-Up of the PK-1 Nameplate |
A British Style Type PS-213a Key With Japan Navy Markings. |
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| Close-up of the Navy Markings, Called "Cherry Marks" |
Japanese Double Current Key by Kawai Denki, Osaka |
Close-Up of the Kawai Denki Nameplate |
Postal Key by Kume Denki, Osaka |
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| Close-Up of the Kume Denki Nameplate |
Japanese Radio Key by Shino Shouten, 1935 |
Close-Up of the Shino Shouten Nameplate |
Hayakawa Electric Model 1100 Hand Key. A Rather Small Key. |
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| Hayakawa Later Changed the Company Name to Sharp. The Symbol of the Fist Around the "T" Represented His First Name Tokuji |
A Different Version of the Hayakawa With a Longer Lever |
A Comparison of the Short and Long Lever Hayakawa Keys |
Japanese Navy Key in Protective Metal Box. Made by Japan Electric Co. Circa WW2 |
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| Close-Up of the Key |
Close-Up of the Japan Electric Nameplate |
Japanese Bomber Key by Japan Radio Co. Made March 1938 (Showa 13) |
Inside the Japanese Bomber Key |
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| Close-up of the Bomber Key Nameplate |
Japanese Radio Key by Matsushita, Feb. 1939 (Showa 14) |
Close-Up of the Matsushita Nameplate |
Army Training Key by Seshita Limited Partnership Co, Tokyo. Made February 1939 (Showa 14) |
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| Close-up of the Seshita Key Nameplate |
Another Japanese Navy Key |
Japanese Flameproof Key. Maker Unknown. Likely Had a Metal Cover Over the Key For Use on Aircraft |
Japanese Key Captured From a Japanese Radio Station on Eniwetok Atoll |
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| Eniwetok Key Used as a Presentation Piece |
Miniature Navy Key Made by Oki Electric |
Close-Up of the Oki Name Stamp With Cherry Marks on Either Side |
Hayakawa Electric Code Training Key. Based on a German Design |
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| Wood Box for the Hayakawa Key |
Hayakawa Training Key With Nameplate (w1tp.com) |
Another Reddish-Base Miniature Key. Maker Unknown |
Comparison of the Red-Base Key With the Tank Key |
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| Japanese Navy Key by Miyazaki Electric. No Date Stamp |
Close-up of the Miyazaki Nameplate |
Postal Style Key by Taka Ryoku, Tokyo. September, 1939 (Showa 14) |
Close-Up of the Taka Ryoku Nameplate. Address says "Tokyo City Shinagawa - ku Ooimizukami- chou 2068" |
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| Early Japanese Radio Key. Missing the Wood Collar Base. Maker Unknown |
Small Japanese Military Key With Metal Cover. Maker Unknown. Captured from Okinawa |
Cover Removed |
Japanese Navy Key Made by Anritsu Electric. October, 1940 (Showa 15) |
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| Close-up of the Anritsu Navy Key Nameplate. Note the "Cherry Marks" Next to the Nameplate |
Army Training Key by Fuji Tsushin. August, 1940 (Showa 15) |
Close-Up of the Fuju Tsushin Nameplate |
Navy Key Made at the Maizuru Navy Yards, Maizuru Japan. February, 1941 (Showa 16) |
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| Close-up of the Maizuru Navy Yard Nameplate |
Folding Lever Key From the Type 94-3 Transmitter |
Key in the Operating Position |
Close-Up of the Front Panel of the Type 94-3 Set Showing the Key in Both Positions |
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| Tiny Key That Was Used in the Type 94-6 "Manpack" Transceiver Set |
Key is Visible in the Left Side of the Type 94-6 Set |
Close-up of the Key Protruding Through the Panel |
Small Key Allegedly Used in a Japanese Zero Fighter Plane |
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| Training Key by Kawaguchi Denki, Tokyo. February, 1941 (Showa 16) |
Close-Up of the Kawaguchi Nameplate |
Japanese Postal Style Key by Nakane Denki. March, 1941 (Showa 16) |
Close-Up of the Nakane Denki Nameplate |
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| The Underside of the Nakane Denki Key With the Owner's Name and Training School |
Miniature Key From a Japanese Field Telegraph Set. Pre-WW2 |
The Miniature Japanese Field Set Key Was Also Used by the Russian Army as Part of Their "Sever" Spy Radio Set |
Another Picture of the Miniature Japanese Key From the "Sever" Spy Set |
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| Field Telegraph Set Key by Tokyo Radio. October 1942 (Showa 17) |
Field Set Key Nameplate |
Matsushita Radio Navy Key. June, 1942 (Showa 17) |
Close-up of the Matsushita Navy Key Nameplate |
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| Japanese Navy Key, Maker Unknown |
Another View of the Unknown Japanese Navy Key |
Japanese Navy Bomber Key by Daikyou Electric. July, 1943 (Showa 18) |
The Daikyou Key With the Cover Removed |
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| Close-Up of the Daikyou Nameplate |
An Unmarked Key Used For Code Training |
A Miniature Key Used in Japanese Tanks, 1944 (Showa 19) |
A View of the Key Disassembled |
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| The Nameplate Indicates the Key was Made in Manchukuo (Manchuria), Which was Japanese Occupied China |
Another Miniature Tank Key, This One Made by Daiyousha, May 1943 (Showa 18) |
Type 95 Field Telegraph Set Key |
A Japanese Navy Key by Dainichi. Base and Lever Are Solid Bakelite. Hardware is All Steel. April, 1944 (Showa 19) |
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| Close-Up of the Dainichi Nameplate |
Postal Style Key From The Nakano High School of Wireless. Nakano, Tokyo. WW2 Era |
Close-Up of the Nakano Wireless Nameplate |
Underside of the Nakano Wireless Key Showing the Name of the Owner |
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| Postal Style Radio Key Marked "Section 51", Tokyo |
Unmarked Key Similar to the Section 51 Key in Previous Pictures |
Top View of the Unmarked Key |
Unknown Maker Japanese Key |
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| Nameplate Says Something About Caution Related to the Terminals |
Tobu Electric Key. November 1948 (Showa 23) |
Tobu Electric Nameplate |
Ota Musen #27 Postal Style Key. Post-WW2 |
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| Ota Musen Nameplate |
Tamusen Type 27 Radio Key |
Tobu Electric Key on Wood Base. March, 1948 (Showa 23) |
Close-Up of the Tobu Electric Nameplate |
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| Japanese Key Made by Fuji Seiko |
Close-Up of the Fuji Seiko Nameplate |
Another Wood Based Key by Tobu Electric. March, 1953 |
Close-Up of the Tobu Electric Nameplate |
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| Key Used by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Youga Seikousha Co. 1950 |
Close-Up of the Youga Seikousha Nameplate |
Another Key Used by The Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Maker Unknown, Missing Nameplate. 1950's |
Code Training Key Marked "Section 51" Tokyo |
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| Section 51 Nameplate |
Radio Key by Tariku Electric, A Japanese Company Operating in Seoul Korea |
Close-Up of the Tariku Nameplate |
Sato Parts Company Radio Key |
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| Sato Parts Model 2700 |
Lafayette Radio Code Practice Set |
Another View of the 2 Lafayette Code Practice Units |
A Korean Made Key. Maker Unknown |
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| Oddly, the Nameplate on the Korean Key is Upside Down ! |
The Korean Key Turned Upside Down So You Can Read the Nameplate |
A Very Early "Swallow" Key by Takatsuka Musen. Ca. Late 1940's |
Another View of the Takatsuka Musen Key |
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| Close-Up of the Takatsuka Musen "Swallow" Nameplate |
Dentsuseiki NKY-4 |
Dentsuseiki "Swalow" KK Sideswiper Key |
KK Sideswiper Nameplate. Note the Spelling of "Swalow" |
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| A Later Version of the Dentsuseiki Sideswiper |
Dentsuseiki Sideswiper Nameplate |
Dentsuseiki MS-2 Sideswiper. Uses Microswitches for Contacts |
Close-up of the MS-2 Nameplate |
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| "Swallow" HK-3 Straight Key by Dentsuseiki |
Top View of the Swallow HK-3 Key |
"Swallow" HK-3S Straight Key by Dentsuseiki |
Close-Up of the HK-3S Nameplate |
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| "Swallow" HK-7 Straight Key by Dentsuseiki |
Close-Up of the Swallow Name |
Japan Radio Corp (JRC) Key for Amateur Use |
Hi-Mound FK-3 Sideswiper. Similar to the Denstuseiki Model KK Sideswiper |
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| Close-Up of the Hi-Mound FK-3 Nameplate |
Hi-Mound HK-1Z |
Close-Up of the HK-1Z Nameplate |
Hi-Mound HK-3 |
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| Close-Up of the HK-3 Nameplate |
Hi-Mound HK-702 |
Hi-Mound HK-707 |
Hi-Mound HK-708 |
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| Hi-Mound MK-708 Double Paddle Manipulator Key |
Hi-Mound HK-802 |
Close-Up of the HK-802 Label |
Hi-Mound HK-803 "Hi-Deluxe" Key |
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| Another View of the Hi-Deluxe Key |
Hi-Mound HK-804. Basically the Same as the HK-803 but on a Solid Brass Base |
Hi-Mound HK-808 |
Hi-Mound Compound Key. Keyer Paddle & Straight Key. Paddle Made With 2 Hi-Deluxe Keys |
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| Another View of the Compound Key |
Hi-Mound Marconi Commemorative Key Marking 100 Years of Marconi Wireless Design (1895-1995). Patterned After the Spark Key Used on the Battleship Mikasa. (See the Japanese Spark Keys Page for More Picures) |
Hi-Mound Limited Release Copy of an Early Postal Key |
Hi-Mound HK-902. A Very Futuristic Looking Key ! |
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| A Side View of the HK-902. The Keying Mechanism is Enclosed Inside a Plastic Tube |
A Different Version of the HK-902 With Smaller Base and Extension Legs for Stability |
Back of the HK-902 |
The Hi-Mound PK-1 Palm Keyer, a Small Portable Telegraph Key |
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| The Back Side of the Palm Keyer Showing How it Can Be Used |
Instruction Sheet for the PK-1 Palm Keyer |
Hi-Mound HSK-910 |
Another View of the HSK-910 |
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| JRC Mini Key For QRP Operators |
GHD GD-599a Straight Key With Micrometer Spacing Adjustment |
Close-Up of the Micrometer Adjustment |
Kenpro KK-7 |
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| Hi-Mound HK-908 Silence Key |
Recently Made Key by Rhea Nakamura, Tokyo |
Close-Up of the Nakamura Nameplate |
A Japanese Key That is Actually a Butane Cigarette Lighter. Made by Abbott Import, Japan |
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Top View of the Japanese Lighter-Key Showing the Heating Element. The Lighter is Operated by Pressing Down on the Lever |
Unknown Maker Japanese Key |
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