An assortment of pictures of early American landline keys from 1844 to around 1880.
Pictures are arranged approximately by age with older keys first.
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| The Vail Lever Correspondent, Used in the First Demonstration of the Telegraph in 1844 (Smithsonian Museum) |
Alfred Vail's Improved Telegraph Key, Ca. 1846 (Smithsonian Museum) |
Another View of Alfred Vail's Improved Telegraph Key |
2 Modern Reproductions of the Vail Key. On the Left by David Combs, W5VJW and on the Right by Kent Co. in England |
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| Very Early Camelback Key by William Clark, Philadelphia, Ca. 1847-48. Note the Lack of a Circuit Closer |
Another View of the William Clark Camelback |
Very Early Camelback Key by SW Chubbuck, Utica NY. Ca. Late 1840's (Smithsonian Museum) |
Close-up of the Unique Circuit Closer on the Chubbuck Key. Chubbuck is Believed to Have Invented the Circuit Closer Attached to the Key |
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| Camelback Key by Hinds & Williams, Boston. Ca. Early 1850's. Note the Ivory Knob and Insulator |
Another View of the Hinds & Williams Camelback |
Close-up of the Hinds & Williams Name |
Another Very Early Camelback Key by Chubbuck With the Same Unique Circuit Closer Ca. 1850's (Museum Victoria, Australia) |
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| Another Example of an Early Chubbuck Camelback Key, Missing the Circuit Closer (Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
A Photo of an Early Camelback Key With Ornately Carved Lever, Possibly Chubbuck |
Very Early Camelback Key by Charles Chester, NY. With Ivory Knob Ca. Late 1850's (Museum Victoria, Australia) |
Another View of the Early Chester Camelback |
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| Early Straight Lever Key by Charles Chester, NY Ca. Late 1850's |
Another View of the Early Chester Key Showing the Name Stamp |
Very Early High-Hump Camelback by Thomas Hall, Boston Ca. 1857 |
Another View of the Hall Camelback. Note the Long Adjustment Spring Which Can by Loosened to Allow the Lever to Fall to Act as a Circuit Closer |
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| Rear View of the Hall Camelback. Note the Non-Symmetric Pivots which is Sometimes Seen on Very Early Landline Keys |
The Hall Key is Actually Rather Small |
Close-up of the Hall Key Camelback Lever |
A Drawing of the Hall Camelback From a Textbook by Prescott. |
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| Unusual Key Marked P&RR (Philadelphia & Reading Railway), Maker Unknown Ca. 1850's |
Another View of the P&RR Key |
Another View of the P&RR Key Showing the Unusual Circuit Closer |
Early Camelback Key by Thomas Hall, Boston Ca. Late 1850's ((Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
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| A Different Camelback Design by Thomas Hall, Boston Ca. Late 1850's (AWA Museum E. Bloomfield NY) |
Another View of the Hall Camelback |
Unusual Early Camelback Key With 2 Humps. Maker Unknown. Ca. Late 1850's |
Another View of the Double Hump Camelback Key |
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| Early Camelback Key by Charles Williams Boston Ca. Late 1850's |
Early Camelback Key of a Different Design by Charles Williams, Boston Ca. Late 1850's |
Another View of the Williams Camelback Key |
A Third View of the Williams Camelback Key |
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| Camelback Key by James Clark & Co. NY Ca. Late 1850's (w1tp.com) |
Another View of the Clark Camelback |
Early Straight Lever Key by GM Phelps, NY Ca. Early 1860's (W2NI Collection) |
Bottom View of the Straight Lever Phelps Key |
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| Straight Lever Key by Caton Instrument Shops, Ottawa Illinois. Note the Wire Binding Screws at the End of the Key Legs. Ca. Early 1860's |
Another View of the Caton Straight Lever Key |
Early Camelback Key by GM Phelps, NY (American Telegraph Co Version). Ca. Early 1860's |
Side View of the Phelps Am Tel. Key Markings |
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| Early Straight Lever Key by A.S. Chubbuck Utica, NY. Ca. 1860's |
Top View of the Chubbuck Key Showing the Chubbuck Name and Railroad Markings |
An Early Straight Lever Key Marked US Telegraph Co Syracuse NY. Possibly Made by Chubbuck Ca. 1860's |
Top View of the US Telegraph Co Key |
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| Early Straight Lever Key by EM Pierson, Cleveland Ca. Early 1860's |
Top View of the Pierson Straight Lever Key |
Camelback Key by Knox & Shain, Philadelphia Ca. 1860's |
Straight Lever Key by Knox & Shain, Philadlphia. Note the Unusual Tension Spring, Which is Correct for This Key. Ca. 1860's |
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| Another View of a Knox & Shain Straight Lever Key |
Straight Lever Leg Key With Oval Base by Thomas Hall, Boston. Ca. 1860's |
Early Straight Key by William Lundberg, San Francisco, Ca. 1863. Note the Similarity to the Chester Straight Key. Lundberg Used to Work for Charles Chester |
Top View of the Lundberg Straight Key |
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| Early Camelback by Charles Williams, Boston. Ca. 1860's |
Another Early Charles Williams Camelback. Ca. 1860's |
Top View of the Williams Camelback |
Interesting Small Landline Key by Dr. Leverett Bradley, Jersey City Ca. 1860's |
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| Phelps Camelback Key With "Snapper" Circuit Closer. Ca. 1860's |
The "Snapper" Circuit Closer Uses a Special Spring and Wheel So the Lever Can Only be in 1 of 2 Positions. Here Shown in the Open Position (w1tp.com) |
The Circuit Closer in the Closed Position |
Later Camelback Key by Charles Williams, Boston Ca. 1860's |
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| Close-up of the Camelback Hump and Williams Name |
Straight Lever Version of the Williams Key. Has a More Rounded Base |
Early Straight Lever Key Marked "Chester, New York". Ca. 1860's |
Another Early Chester Straight Lever Key Marked "Charles T & JN Chester, NY". Ca. 1860's |
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| Another View of the Charles T & JN Chester Straight Key |
Camelback Key by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia. Not as Early a Key as the Design Would Suggest. Ca. 1868 |
Straight Lever Key by WE Facer, Philadelphia Ca. Late 1860's |
Another View of the Facer Straight Lever Key |
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| An Earlier Version of the Facer Key With No Spring Tension Adjustment Screw |
Early Small Straight Lever Key by GC Wessmann & Sons, NY Ca. 1860's |
Another View of the Wessmann Straight Lever Key |
Straight Lever Key by Thomas Edison, Newark NJ Ca. Late 1860's (K5RW Collection) |
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| Another View of Edison Key |
Camelback Key by Edison & Murray Ca. 1870 |
Close-Up of the Edison & Murrey Name Stamp. Note the Name is Incorrectly Spelled "Murrey". It Should be "Murray" After Joseph T. Murray, Edison's Partner |
Early Straight Lever Leg Key by Robert Henning @ the Caton Instrument Shops, Ottawa Illinois. Ca. 1860's |
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| Another View of the Henning Leg Key |
Camelback Key Marked "A&P Tel Co" (Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Co) Ca. Late 1860's |
Another View of the A&P Tel Co. Key |
Straight Lever Key by Shawk & Barton, Cleveland Ca. 1868 |
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| Top View of the Shawk & Barton Key |
Close-up of the Shawk & Barton Name |
Straight Lever Key by Union Electric Mfg Co. NY Ca. Late 1860's (Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
Camelback Key by GM Phelps, NY Ca. Late 1860's |
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| Another View of the Phelps Camelback. This is the Later Western Union Design Which is a Little Different From the Earlier American Telegraph Co Design |
Phelps Style Camelback Key Marked "WA Chapin" Ca. 1860's |
Another View of the Chapin Camelback Key |
Straight Lever Key by WD Greene, Ypsilanti Michigan Ca. Late 1860's |
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| Another View of the Greene Straight Lever Key |
Camelback Key by LG Tillotson, NY. Ca. Late 1860's |
Another View of the Tillotson Camelback Key |
Caton-Pattern Straight Lever Key by George Bliss, Chicago. Note the "Snapper" Circuit Closer. Ca. Late 1860's |
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| Another View of the Bliss Caton-Pattern Key |
Caton-Pattern Straight Lever Key by LG Tillotson, NY Ca. 1860's |
Another View of the Tillotson Caton-Pattern Key |
Miniature Camelback Key by LG Tillotson, NY. Ca. Late 1860's |
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| Another View of the Miniature Tillotson Camelback Key |
A Tillotson Caton-Pattern Key With Camelback Lever. Ca. Late 1860's |
Another View of the Tillotson Key |
A 3rd View of the Tillotson Key Showing the "Snapper" Circuit Closer |
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| Straight Key by Franklin Pope, NY. Also Has a "Snapper" Circuit Closer. Ca. 1870 |
A Later Version Camelback Key by Knox & Shain, Philadelphia. Ca. 1870 |
Interesting Leg Key by RH Wilson, Ypsilanti Michigan. Ca. 1870. |
Another View of the Wilson Key |
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| Straight Lever Leg Key by Utica Fire Alarm Telegraph Co. Very Similar in Design to Keys by AS Chubbuck Who Was Also From Utica. Ca. Early 1870's |
Another View of the Utica Leg Key |
Top View of the Utica Key Showing the Maker Name |
Beautifully Machined Leg Key by LS&MS RR (Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad) Ca. Early 1870's (Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
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| Straight Lever Leg Key by MA Buell, Cleveland. Ca. Early 1870's |
Top View of the Buell Leg Key |
Straight Lever Leg Key by Gray & Barton, Chicago. (Gray & Barton Later Became Western Electric). Ca. 1870 |
Top View of the Gray & Barton Leg Key |
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| Unusual Key by Electrical Construction Co, San Francisco. Note How the Lever Dips Down Into a Slot in the Base. Ca. Early 1870's |
Another View of the Electrical Construction Co. Key Showing the Slot in the Base |
Early Western Electric Straight Lever Key, Chicago. Note the Similar Design to the Gray & Barton Key. Ca. 1872 |
Another View of the Western Electric Key |
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| A Nickel Plated Western Electric Straight Lever Leg Key Ca. 1872 |
Another View of the Western Electric Key |
Straight Lever Key by Charles Williams, Boston. Possibly Taken off a KOB Set. Ca. Early 1870's |
Camelback Key by Partick & Carter, Philadelphia. Ca. Early 1870's (Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
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| Small Camelback Key by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia. Ca. Early 1870's |
Another View of the Partrick & Carter Camelback |
Step Lever Leg Key by Electrical Construction Co (ECCo), San Francisco. Ca. Early 1870's |
Another View of the ECCo Step Lever Key |
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| Small Oval Based Key by ECCo. Ca. 1875 |
Another View of the ECCo Oval Based Key |
Unknown Step-Lever Key. Ca. 1870's |
Straight Lever Key by George Bliss, Chicago. Ca. Early 1870's (Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
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| A George Bliss Straight Lever Leg Key. Ca. Early 1870's |
Another George Bliss Straight Lever Leg Key. Ca. Early 1870's |
Close-up of the Lever Showing the Bliss Name |
A George Bliss Camelback Key With an Unusual Circuit Closer That Has no Knob, or Even a Hole for One. Ca. 1870's |
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| Straight Lever Key by WE Davis, Jersey City. Ca. Early 1870's |
Step Lever Key by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia. Ca. 1870's |
Another Step Lever Key by Partrick-Bunnell & Co. Ca. 1870's |
Partrick-Bunnell Step Lever Key With Unusual Circuit Closer |
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| Close-Up of the Circuit Closer That Rotates Around the Center Contact |
Unusual Camelback Key by California Electrical Power Co, San Francisco. Ca. 1870's |
Another View of the Cal. Electrical Power Co Camelback |
Close-up of the Cal Electrical Power Name |
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| Camelback Key bt Watts & Co, Baltimore. Ca. 1870's |
Camelback Leg Key by Watts & Co, Baltimore. Ca 1870's |
Step Lever Key Marked "B&O R.R." Probably Made by Watts & Co, Baltimore. Ca. 1870s |
Note the Finials On Top of the Pivots. This Was Often Seen on Watts Instruments, Especially Sounders |
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| Partrick & Carter Bridge Frame Key. Ca. 1870's |
Top View of the Partrick & Carter Bridge Frame Key Showing the Name |
Step Lever Leg Key by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia. Ca. 1870's |
Camelback Leg Key by Cooperative Mfg. Co, Philadelphia Ca. 1870's |
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| Step Lever Leg Key Marked "S. Bergmann Maker" and American Union Tel Co. Ca. 1870's |
Close-up of the Lever Showing the Bergmann Name |
Another Camelback Key of Different Design by Cooperative Mfg. Co Ca. 1870's (Gil Schlehman K9WDY Collection) |
Miniature Camelback Leg Key by W. Hochhausen, NY Ca. 1875 |
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| Another View of the Hochhausen Camelback Key |
Miniature Camelback Leg Key by LG Tillotson, NY Ca. 1870's |
Another View of the Miniature Camelback Key |
A Miniature Straight Lever Key by LG Tillotson, NY Ca. 1870's |
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| Camelback Leg Key by LG Tillotson, NY Ca. 1870's |
Another View of the Tillotson Camelback Key |
Straight Lever Key by Altoona RR Shops, Altoona PA. Ca. 1870's |
Another Altoona Shops Straight Lever Key Ca. 1870's |
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| MA Buell "Eureka" Key. Ca. 1870's |
Step Lever Leg Key by California Electrical Works, San Francisco. Ca. Late 1870's |
Another View of the Cal Electrical Works Key |
Close-up of the Lever Showing the Cal. Electrical Works Name |
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| Straight Lever Leg Key by LG Tillotson, NY. Ca. Late 1870's |
First Model Lewis Key, Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. 1875 |
Another View of the First Model Lewis Key |
2nd Model Lewis Key Ca. 1876 |
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| Another View of the 2nd Model Lewis Key |
Unusual Lewis Key Designed for Use on European Style Open Circuit Telegraph Systems. Ca. Late 1870's |
Another View of the Lewis Open Circuit Key |
An Interesting Step-Lever Key. Possibly Homemade. No Maker's Markings |
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| Side View of the Step Lever Key |
Binding Posts Appear to be From an Early Induction Coil |
The Washington Key, Camelback Lever Version, Made by Thomas Hall, Boston. Ca. 1880 |
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