Below is the continuation of the American landline keys page with keys dating from around 1880 to the early 20th century.
Pictures are arranged approximately by age, with the older keys first.
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| Lewis Key on Hard Rubber Base. Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. 1880 |
Another View of the Rubber Based Lewis Key |
Straight Lever Key by Lannert & Decker, Cleveland. Ca. 1880 |
Step Lever Key by Post & Co, Cincinnati Ca. 1880 |
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| Straight Key by LG Tillotson, NY on a Shield-Shaped Base. Ca. 1880 |
Another View of the Tillotson Straight Key |
Bridge Frame Camelback Key by LG Tillotson, NY on a Hard Rubber Base |
Rear View of the Bridge Frame Tillotson Key |
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| Another Bridge Frame Key on Hard Rubber Base. This One Was Made by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia. Ca. Early 1880's |
Another View of the Partrick & Carter Bridge Frame Key |
A Different Version of the Partrick & Carter Bridge Frame Key With a Camelback Lever |
Bridge Frame Camelback Key on Hard Rubber Base by Post & Co, Cleveland. Ca. Early 1880's |
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| Another Bridge-Frame Camelback Key, This One With a Brass Base. Maker Unknown, Possibly Tillotson |
Another View of the All-Brass Bridge-Frame Camelback |
Unusual Bridge-Frame Camelback Key Mounted on a Board With Multiple Switches. Maker Unknown |
The Key Has a set of Auxilliary Contacts at the Rear of the Key |
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| A Lewis Style Key on Hard Rubber Base Marked "Chicago Telegraph Supply". Likely Made by Western Electric. Ca. Early 1880's |
Walter Phillips Patent Key by LG Tillotson, NY. Ca. 1880 |
Another View of the Phillips Key |
Delany Patent Key Made by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia. Has a Unique Rotatable Contact Disk. Ca. 1880 |
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| Another View of the Delany Key |
The JH Bunnell 1881 Patent Steel Lever Key, 1st Model |
A Later Example of a JH Bunnell Legless Steel Lever Key. One of the Most Common Telegraph Keys |
The Washington Key by Thomas Hall, Boston. Ca. 1881 |
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| Another View of the Hall Washington Key |
Altoona Shops Cain Key, Altoona PA. Ca. 1881 |
Another View of the Altoona Shops Cain Key |
Camelback Key by George D'Infreville, NY. Ca. 1881 |
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| Another View of the D'Infreville Key |
Close-up of the D'Infreville Marking |
The Prosch Key, Invented by Cyrus Prosch. Ca. 1882 |
Another View of the Prosch Key |
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| Top View of the Prosch Key |
Close-Up of the Spiral Contact. The Knob Can be Rotated to Provide a Clean Contact When Needed |
The Edwards Key. Patented 1883 by Edgar Edwards, Cincinnati Ohio. Note the Unusual Leaf Spring Pivot |
Another View of the Edwards Key |
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| The Cumming Periphery Contact Key Made by LG Tillotson, NY, Ca. 1882 |
Another View of the Cumming Periphery Contact Key |
The Contacts are Brass Disks With a Platinum Wire Around the Periphery. Disks Are Positioned at Right Angles to Each Other |
Close-up of the Circuit Closer Showing the Key Name |
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| Disk Assemblies Can be Loosened and Rotated to Provide a Clean Contact When Needed |
The Legless Version of the Cumming Periphery Key. Also Has a Different Shaped Base |
Top View of the Legless Cumming Key (Smithsonian Museum) |
Close-Up of the Contact Discs on the Cumming Key |
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| The Stevens Key Made by LG Tillotson, NY Ca. 1883. Contacts at the Rear of the Key |
Another View of the Stevens Key |
Close-up of the Circuit Closer With the Stevens Name |
Victor Leg Key, 1st Model, by LG Tillotson, NY Ca. 1882. Uses a Knife-Edge Pivot |
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| Victor Legless Key, 1st Model Ca. 1882. Mounted on Hard Rubber Base |
Victor Leg Key, 2nd Model Ca. 1884 |
Victor Legless Key, 2nd Model |
A Key Made By George H Wells, Patterned After a Victor Key. (No Record of this Maker) |
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| Rather Than a Knife-Edge Pivot, The Wells Key Pivots on a Thin Metal Pin That Rests in a Slot in the Side of the Frame |
Camelback Key by American Union Telegraph Co. Ca. 1880's |
Another View of the American Union Key Showing a Double-Stamped Maker's Marking |
Steel Lever Lewis Key by Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. 1884 |
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| Another View of the Steel Lever Lewis Key |
Lewis Steel Lever Leg Key Ca. 1884 |
Another View of the Steel Lever Lewis Leg Key |
The 3 Major Lewis Keys |
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| Caton Pattern Camelback Key by ES Greeley, NY Ca. 1885 |
The Greeley Ludwig Instrument. ES Greeley, NY. Ca. 1886 |
The Jenkins Key Made by JH Bunnell, NY Ca. 1886. Invented by MR Jenkins, Browning Missouri |
Odd Step-Lever Key With Multiple Contacts. Possibly for Multiplex Use. Maker Unknown. Ca. 1880's |
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| Another View of the Multiple-Contact Key |
Steiner Leg Key by Western Electric, Chicago Ca. 1886. Uses a Leaf-Spring Pivot |
Another View of the Steiner Leg Key |
Steiner Legless Key Ca. 1886 |
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| Another View of the Steiner Legless Key |
A Different Version of the Steiner Leg Key With a Unique Contact Frame |
Close-Up of the Steiner Contact Frame |
The Steel Lever Acme Key by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia Ca. 1886 |
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| Another View of the Acme Key |
Leaf-Spring Pivot Key by American Electrical Works, Cleveland Ca. 1886. Similar in Design to the Steiner Key |
Another View of the American Electrical Works Key |
Biggs Leg Key. Made By Standard Electric, Louisville, Kentucky Ca. 1886 |
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| Another View of the Biggs Leg Key |
Biggs Legless Key Ca. 1886 |
Another View of the Biggs Legless Key |
The Maloney Convertible Telegraph Key. The Lever Can be Rotated 90 Degrees so the Key Can be Used as a Sideswiper. Patented 1886 (Smithsonian Museum) |
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| Top View of the Maloney Convertible Telegraph Key (Smithsonian Museum) |
Camelback Key by Charles Bly, Boston Ca. Late 1880's |
Altoona Shops Camelback Key With Solid Brass Base |
Close-Up of the Altoona Shops Name |
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| Another View of the Bly Camelback Key |
Steel Lever Key by CH Dubois, NY Ca. 1886 |
The Conklin Key by Lewis & Fowler Mfg. Co, Brooklyn NY. Ca. 1887 |
Top View of the Conklin Key Showing the Unusual Pivot |
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| Camelback Key by JH Bunnell, NY. From a KOB Set. Ca. Late 1880's |
Straight Lever Key by AB Lyman, Cleveland. From a KOB Set. Ca. Late 1880's |
Small Camelback Key by JH Longstreet, NY Ca. Late 1880's |
Another View of the Longstreet Camelback Key |
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| Full Size Camelback Key by JH Longstreet, NY. Ca. Late 1880's |
Steel Lever Key by JH Longstreet, NY. Ca. Late 1880's |
Solid Base Rear-Pivot Key by Western Electric, Chicago. Legless Version. Ca. Late 1880's |
Another View of the Western Electric Key |
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| Solid Base Rear-Pivot Leg Key by Western Electric, Chicago Ca. Late 1880's |
Another View of the Western Electric Leg Key |
Close-up of the Ornate Western Electric Logo |
Camelback Key by ES Greeley, NY. Ca. Late 1880's |
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| Miniature Leg Key by Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. Late 1880's |
Another View of the Miniature Western Electric Leg Key |
A Different Version of the Western Electric Mini Leg Key for Fire Alarm Use. Note the Lack of Circuit Closer and Insulated Rear Contact |
Leaf-Spring Pivot Key by AB Lyman, Cleveland. Ca. 1888 |
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| Another View of the Lyman Leaf-Spring Pivot Key |
A Nickel Plated Version of the Lyman Leaf-Spring Key |
Another View of the Nickel Plated Lyman Key |
Steel Lever Legless Key by New Haven Clock Co. Ca. 1888 |
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| Steel Lever Legless Key by National Electric Co NY Ca. 1890. New Haven Clock Co Was Bought by National Electric in 1890 |
"The Unique Key" by National Electric Co. Ca. 1890 |
Another View of the National Electric "Unique Key" |
Steel Lever Leg Key by Altoona RR Shops, Altoona PA. Ca. 1890 |
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| Close-up of the Altoona Shops Name |
The Bradford Self-Closing Telegraph Key. Patented by Charles Bradford, 1892 |
Double-Rod Lever Leg Key (Steiner Patent) by Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. 1893 |
Double-Rod Lever Legless Key (Steiner Patent) by Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. 1893 |
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| An Unusual Double-Rod Lever Key With AB Lyman Markings |
Close-Up of the AB Lyman Markings |
Straight Lever Key by Sherman & Lyman, Cleveland. Ca. Early 1890's |
Another View of the Sherman & Lyman Key |
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| A Western Electric Key With a Metal Bar Between the Trunnions to Keep Them Aligned. Ca. 1890's |
Another View of the Western Electric Key With the Lever Removed so You Can See the Trunnion Alignment Bar |
A Picture of the Trunnion Bar Key With the Matching Western Electric Sounder |
Straight Lever Leg Key by Partrick & Carter, Philadelphia Ca. Early 1890's. Someone Had the Key Chrome Plated |
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| An Unusual Round Base Key Marked "C.L. Smith". May Have Been a Homemade Key |
Victor Style Key by Western Electric, Chicago. Ca. Late 1890's |
Another View of the Western Electric Victor Key |
Another Victor Style Key by Foote-Pierson, NY. Ca. 1900 |
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| Yet Another Victor Key, This One Made by JH Bunnell |
The Lefley Key. Made in Columbia Pennsylvania. Ca. 1902 |
Another View of the Lefley Key |
The Fry Open-Circuit Leg Key by JH Bunnell, NY. Ca. 1902 |
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| Another View of the Bunnell Fry Key |
Miniature Key Made by JH Bunnell, NY for the 25th Reunion of the Old Time Telegrapher Assn. 1905 |
The Bunnell Miniature Key Has a Loop to be Used as a Watch FOB |
The Underside of the Miniature Key Showing the Information About the Reunion |
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| Another Bunnell Miniature Key Together With the Matching Miniature Sounder |
"The Twentieth Century Key" by Foote-Pierson, NY. Ca. 1905. A Pump-Handle Key Operated Sideways to Prevent Telegrapher's Glass Arm |
Another View of the Twentieth Century Key |
The Bunnell Sideswiper Key by JH Bunnell, NY. Ca. 1906. Mounted on an Iron Base With Japanned Finish |
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| Another View of the Bunnell Sideswiper |
An Unusual Small Straight Key Called "The Wizard" by D&K Mfg Co, Cleveland, Ohio. Ca. 1908 |
"The Wizard" Was a Small Portable Key Designed to be Carried by an Operator to His Telegrapher Job. The Key Attaches to the Main Telegraph Office Key at the Circuit Closer Lip |
A Picture of "The Wizard" Attached to a Bunnell Triumph Key |
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| JH Bunnell Leg Key With Mecograph Style Tiger Stripe Finish. Ca. 1910 |
Another View of the Tiger Stripe Bunnell Leg Key |
Top View of the Bunnell Key Showing the Tiger Stripes. This Type of Finish Was Called "Japanning", and is Often Found on Early Asian Furniture |
Steel Lever Key by Postal Telegraph / Foote-Pierson. With the Western Union Maroon Color. Ca. 1910 |
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| Another View of the Postal Telegraph Key |
Top View of the Key Showing the Postal Telegraph Name, Which is Cast Into the Base |
Leg Key by MESCO (Manhattan Electrical Supply Co), NY. Ca. 1910 |
MESCO Legless Key Ca. 1910 |
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| Bunnell "Beeko" Straight Key |
Unknown Wood Based Key That Often Shows Up for Sale. Might be Made for a Telegraphy Training School |
Although the Key Looks Like a Spark Key, the Contact is Clearly Too Small for Spark Use |
The Same Unknown Wood Based Key Often Shows Up With a Matching Bullnose Style Sounder |
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| The Propst-Jackson Telegraph Transmitter, Charlotte North Carolina. Ca. 1910 |
Another View of the Propst-Jackson Telegraph Transmitter |
Close-up of the Propst-Jackson Nameplate |
W.U. Polechanger Key 1-B. Spies Electrical Works, Chicago |
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| Bunnell Legless Key 5-A |
Legless Key 5-A With the Cover Removed |
Bunnell Type 7B Key |
The Type 7B Was a Panel Mounted Key, Possibly Used for Testing Circuits |
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| A View of the Underside of the Type 7B Key |
The Banholzer Key. A Mechanical Key Attached to a Candlestick Phone to Make Clicking Sounds That Can be Heard Over the Telephone Audio. Ca. 1916 |
A Tin Key & Buzzer Practice Set by Signal Electric, Menominee Michigain. 1930's |
Another View of the Banholzer Key |
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| The Banholzer Key Installed on a Candlestick Phone |
Sideswiper Key by American Tele-Key. Ca. 1930's |
Top View of the American Tele-Key Sideswiper |
The Radio Robot Key by Gardiner-Levering, Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Ca. 1936. The Key is Used to Punch a Paper Tape With a Morse Code Message Which is Then Fed Into the Machine to Send the Message |
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| Side View of the Radio Robot Key Showing the Binding Post Connections |
A View Inside the Radio Robot Key. The Key Lever on the Right Punches Holes in the Tape, While the Key Lever on the Left Advances the Tape. The Tape is Then Fed Into the Machine |
Western Electric 6B Telephone Line Test Key. This Key is Sometimes Mistakenly Referred to as a "Spy" Key, but was Actually Part of the W.E. Type 35 Line Test Set. Ca. 1930 |
The Western Electric 35F Telephone Line Test Set |
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Close-up of the WE-35F set, showing the 4 small keys |
An earlier version of the WE-35F, the WE-35C |
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