Telegraph-History


Telegraph register designed by Alfred Vail
        This site contains several articles that focus on U.S. Telegraph-History.
The majority of these articles first appeared in the "Key and Telegraph"
column of "The AWA Journal," the quarterly magazine of the
Antique Wireless Association     (A non-profit historical society.)
These web versions have been expanded to include additional information,
images and illustrations.   Some have evolved into comprehensive sites.
Other articles are original classic works by telegraph pioneers, engineers
and inventors.    Certain new articles will be added here in the future.



New Western Eletric Mfg. Co. logo on one of their early telegraph sounders

The Western Electric
Manufacturing Company




The history of the company that evolved from the needs and influence of Western Union into
the Western Electric Company.
New Caton Telegraph Instrument Factory

Early Manufacturers of Telegraph and Electrical Apparatus



An article and web site that lists U.S. telegraph manufacturers that were in operation prior to 1918. Also included are over 415 examples of manufacturer ads with notes about the companies and people associated with them.



A Western Union era Phelps Key


George M. Phelps




19th century telegraph instrument maker and inventor for The American Telegraph Co. and Western Union.

Vibroplex Bug manufacturered by Horace G. Martin


Horace G. Martin




Telegrapher, inventor, and manufacturer best known for his invention of the Vibroplex Bug.




Franklin Pope

Franklin L. Pope



Engineer, inventor, telegrapher, explorer, writer, and an early partner with Thomas Edison.

The Vail Register
The
Vail Register


The telegraph register designed by
Alfred Vail that was used on the
first telegraph line between
Washington and Baltimore in 1844.




Bunnell Telegraphic & Electrical Co. catalog cover
Bunnell vs Bunnell

 A Bunnell Telegraphic and Electrical Co. Catalog.
is viewable from this site.

J.H. Bunnell & Co. was the largest manufacturer
of telegraph instruments in the United States.
This article covers the history of two competing
Bunnell companies that merged in the early 1900s.
Early binding post designs Relays, Keys,
Registers and Sounders

 By Franklin Pope
From: The Telegrapher
July 27, 1872.


An early article that documents the evolution
of telegraph instruments in the U.S. and provides
a snapshot of its progress as of 1872.



George W. Conkling

George Conkling:
Champion Telegrapher



The career of a famous telegrapher
and his association with some
unique telegraph keys.
Dedication Ceremony May 2, 1912 Harriman, NY

A Monument to
Charles Minot



The history of the monument erected
to commemorate the introduction of the
telegraph in U.S. railway service.



Western Electric Manufacturing Co. Sounder
The Telegraph
Instrument
factory of
John Dean Caton

The story of the Illinois State
Supreme Court Judge who brought
the telegraph to the mid-west
United States during the 1850s.
Barclay Twist Insulator
John C. Barclay :
Western Union's
Chief Engineer,
1902 - 1910.


The career and inventions of this
former telegrapher best known for
his work in printing telegraphy.



Bunnell Double Speed Key on a factory base. New
The Bunnell
Double Speed Key:


Was it Really Introduced in 1888?

An important key design introduced during the
emerging semi-automatic telegraph key market.
A ca. 1906 Triumph
The Evolution
of a Triumph





The history of the most popular
telegraph key used in the U.S.



Samuel Morse at the Academy of Music
Signature
of The Father


The last telegraph message by
Samuel Morse sent from the
Academy of Music,
New York - June 10, 1871.



The First Telegraphic Message from California
When the Telegraph
Came to California




Two articles by James Gamble
from The Californian magazine, 1881 :

 Early Reminiscences of the Telegraph
on the Pacific Coast
 The first telegraph lines in California.
and

 Wiring A Continent
 The making of the
U.S. transcontinental telegraph line.









        A map showing all the telegraph lines in the U.S. as of 1848        

Click here to view this early map showing the
lines of  Morse's Electro-Magnetic Telegraph
that were in operation and being constructed
in the U.S. as of January, 1848.        ( 1366K )    
   From : The Weekly Herald, New York
January 29, 1848   


      Map showing the telegraph lines and stations in the U. S. as of 1853.        
Click here to view the map:
 Telegraph Stations in the United States,
the Canadas and Nova Scotia. ( 2613K )
From : The Library of Congress,
Geography and Map Division,
Barr, Chas. B. Published 1853





A telegraph sounder designed by G. M. Phelps

QSL Card
telegraph-history.org
Copyright (c) by John Casale - W2NI
Troy, New York USA
2008
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Uncle Sam Postage Stamp. Troy,N.Y. is considered the 'Home of Uncle Sam'.