Early "bug" telegraph key invented in 1913 by Weston Hadden. A popular side-to-side key is the semi-automatic key or bug, sometimes known as a Vibroplex key, after an early manufacturer of mechanical, semi-automatic keys.

160 EARLY OTTOMAN EMPIRE TURKISH TELEGRAPH KEY:(23KB)This early Turkish land-line telegraph key was found in an antique store in Istanbul in 2003. The letters stamped into the bottom of the base suggest that it was used during the Ottoman Empire.

Telegraph keys are electrical switches used to send coded messages that travel as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Due to special difficulties in sending pulses through long underwater cables, so-called double-current keys were used.

Simple to operate and virtually incapable of making errors, the Hand Key is the basic tool for the radio telegrapher. Hand Keys are also known as Straight Keys in the ham world. The following Hand Keys are categorized as "Spark Keys," "Radio Keys," "Military Keys," "Flame-proof Keys" and "Currently Manufactured Hand Keys."

The Port Rule, the First Telegraph Transmitter, Developed by Samuel FB Morse and Alfred Vail. 1840 Alfred Vail's First Telegraph Key, Called the Vail Correspondent, Which Was a Simple Strap Key. 1844 (Smithsonian Museum)

Below you’ll find photos and histories of some of the telegraph keys in my small collection. These include everything from the popular J-38 which was contracted for production by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WWII, to the rare El-Key, which was recently restored. I …

1215 SWEDISH ERICSSON-STYLE KEY: (49KB) Very large old all-brass key on a wooden base with very long lever and beautiful brass hardware and switch block. Made in 1880's by ERICSSON or KUNGLIGA TELEGRAFUERKET (The Royal Telegraph Administration) at their NYNASHAMN factory S. of Stockholm.

WR has published an extraordinary book that details every important step in the restoration and repair of telegraph keys. WR's book addresses the plating or japanning and pin striping of key bases, the making of needed key parts, the plating of small parts in the home shop, the replacement of mainsprings, the winding of coil springs, etc.

the universal Bakelite or rubber key knob. This makes it nearly unique. More than 1,000 pictures of telegraph keys appear on the Internet. This is the only once since 1844 (Vail’s original key) that does not have an insulated knob. The key’s arrangement operates the key lever at ground potenMal, as usual, hence no need for an insulated knob.

US Navy key with 1/2 inch silver contacts & brass cooling fin. Bunnell began making keys with replacable contacts copied by Signal Electric Co. eventually led to the Johnson Hand key of 1930s.