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Fig 1	Double Current Key (Unk)
Fig 2	Double Current Mark I Key
Fig 3	Double Current Mark III Key
Fig 4	Elliott Brothers G.P.O. Key
Fig 5	Other G.P.O. Key
Fig 6	Unknown G.P.O. Key
Fig 7	GNT-605 Morse Eq. Key
Fig 8	Swiss / Italian Landline Key
Fig 9	Austrian Camelback #10
Fig 10	Austrian Camelback #14
Fig 11	Austrian Camelback #19
Fig 12	Marconi P.S. No. 213A
Fig 13	Marconi Intl. Marine 365EZ
Fig 14	Marconi Intl. Marine 365A
Fig 15	French PTT Key
Fig 16	Unk European Key
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Fig 1: British G.P.O. Dbl
Current Key

SOLD

This is an old British Postal key. The G.P.O. made keys themselves in a works not far from the Silvertown Telegraph Works in London. They did not mark their keys. This is a very big and heavy piece, measuring at the base 8-1/4" by 4-3/4" and its weight is about 3-1/2 lb. The round brass bezel with its glass lifts off for adjustments. This is a "double current" arranged key with two sets of contacts.

Fig 2: British Mark I G.P.O.
Silvertown Key

SOLD

This is my "Key, Double Current, Mark I" G.P.O. Pattern, probably made in the 1920's. When not sending, the operator flipped the switch to "Receive" - allowing messages to be received over the same pair. It has the double current contacts which put out a voltage of reverse polarity while the key is up to that applied whilst the key is depressed. This one is marked "Silvertown London" which is a district in London, located in the Thames waterfront docks area. The Silvertown Telegraph Works were a subsidiary of the The India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Telegraph Construction Co. Ltd.

Fig3: British Mark III G.P.O

SOLD

This is my "Key, Double Current, Mark III G.P.O., characterized by the solid
brass cover and fully adjustable upper and lower contacts. This particular one is marked "H. White & Co. III 1919" It is a quite heavy piece, weighing ~ 5 lbs. The base measures 8-1/2" x 5"

This particular one has the distinctive military "Arrow" stamping on top of the brass cover. It was made for and used by some military group in the U.K.

There is a small crack in the wood base on the front caused by one of the fasteners. The cure is quite simple if you have any wood working sense, but I will leave that to the buyer. If I do it, I won't be able to sell it so cheaply. It is really quite inconsequential.

Fig. 4: Elliott Bros. G.P.O. Key

Left profile

Tag on front end

Right profile

SOLD

The tag on end of base proclaims "Elliott Brothers London Limited". The base has rather typical 6" x 3" dimensions and its weight is ~ 1lb. 3.4 oz. It is made of Solid brass and sits on a wooden base.

Fig. 5: PATT. 1056A G.P.O. Key

SOLD

An Early British G.P.O. style key. Two sets of contacts, and three terminals but usually used only for single current operation. It measures a rather standard 6" x 3"and weighs in at 1 lb, 4.75 oz. These keys were made by several different factories and almost all that turn up show signs of having been put to use. This one is in very good shape overall for its age. I cannot find any markings on mine but others are stamped with the PATT. 1056A and may also show the maker if not the GPO itself.

Fig. 6: Unknown British
G.P.O. style key.

SOLD

An Early British ? G.P.O. style key, again. Maker unknown, but it is in mint condition. I picked this beauty up at Renningers Antique Mall in Mt. Dora, FL on a casual stroll through the market just after Christmas. one year.

The base is 3-1/2" x 5" and it weighs in at abt 1-1/2 lb. A classic beauty that graces anyone's collection.

Fig 7: G.N.T. Morse Model 605

SOLD

A key made by Morse Equipment Ltd. Tring, Hertfordshire, U.K. Made originally by the Great Northern Telegraph Works in Copenhagen, Denmark. it
weighs 1 lb, 13 oz. and is about 8 inches long, The added base board is 8" x 4-1/2". This one came to me by way of Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia.

Click for: 1. METAL TAG

2. UNDERSIDE

Fig 8 Forcieri Key

SOLD

A Swiss / Italian Land line Key. The wooden base is abt 5-7/8" by 2-1/4" and it weighs 1 lb 2.6 oz. A very handsome key called "Forcieri Key" and "Italian Postal Key".

In examining the pictures, the operator had to press the fan shaped piece back to commence keying. Pulling the odd switch reverted back to receive mode. They used a constant current in idle, just the exact opposite of the English mode.

( I found the action a bit "stiff", so pulling and pushing is more appropriate as the spring is not going to retract it on mine at least. )

I have read where the switch was taken off for training purposes and perhaps in later systems done away with altogether? To me it would be a pain in the ass to try and use it in practical modern radio use. You have no need for a constant key except to tune up.

Fig 9: Rare, #10 Austrian
camelback key

SOLD

This is a rare 1870's landline key made in Vienna, Austria by a mfg. called "Hekaphon". This key has the typical double routed walnut base measuring 6-1/4" x 3-1/2".

It weighs 1lb 1-5/8 oz. Not bad at all for a 135 year old key.

Fig 10: Rare, #14 Austrian
camelback key

Another rare 1870's landline key made in Vienna, Austria by a mfg. called "Hekaphon". This key has the typical double routed walnut base measuring 6-1/8" x 3-1/2".

It weighs 11-1/8 oz.

Fig 11: Rare, #19 Austrian
camelback key

SOLD

Usually seen only in European elephone / Telegraph museums a very old, rare 1870's landline key made in Vienna, Austria by a mfg. called "Hekaphon". This key has the typical double routed walnut base measuring 6-3/4" x 4-1/8".

It weighs 1lb 3-1/8 oz. Two more views: RIGHT REAR

Fig. 12: Marconi P.S. No. 213A

SOLD

A General Post Office. key made by the British Marconi Morse Co. Marked P.S. No 213A INST No 338454. These Keys are said to have been used upon submarine cable laying ships and on shore stations. 5-7/8" x 3-3/16" on the base, and about 9" overall, this baby weighs in at 1 lb. 9.7 oz.

Fig. 13: Marconi 365EZ

SOLD

This is a classic British Maritime wireless key shown with its cover removed. See the label HERE. See the key with its cover on HERE. SN14814

The key has two bases really, the first is only about 3-1/4" x 4-1/4". This in turn sits on a second base about 3-7/8" x 6-1/2". On the inside of the metal cover is printed "Eddystone 6908P" and a very small oval inside of which is stamped "JVM" With its cover on it weighs only 2 lb. 4-3/8 oz.

Many consider this to be the best of all the 365 series keys, and most popular. It appeared in the late 1960's.

Fig. 14: Marconi 365A

SOLD

This key, made by the British Marconi Wireless Co. - probably in the late 30's. It obviously was adequate to be used with maritime quenched spark transmitters, although spark transmitters may have been kept only as auxiliary sets after abt 1928. SN 2877

It has dual auxiliary contacts at the rear to desensitize the receiver during key down and a large front contact with cooling fins and heat sink.

Beginning around '35 there was a series beginning with 365 (no letter suffix) and continuing. It has no key click suppression at all.

This key has the sleeve bearings. Later ones had ball race bearings. The base of this key measures roughly 7-3/8"x 5-3/8".

With the cover on, it weighs a respectable 3 lb 5-7/8 oz. I have read where the covers are frequently missing as they were often just ''in the way'', I found the cover seems
to amplify contact noise in a hollow, tinny way and the key needed a soft rubber base pad under to further silence it down.

(If you really wanted to quiet it more, take it entirely off of that brass base and put it on some other heavy base material, but I do not advocate destroying antiques. Early ship ops removed the gray paint & polished the brass base and cover. )

This is not the largest of the MIM keys - the 365B was.   HERE as seen with its cover on. HERE is the view from the other side. Here is its BOTTOM view.

Now, here are reproductions of a nice piece written for the now discontinued "Morsum Magnificat" - MM74, March- April 2001 by Wyn Davies.

It describes partial history and some features of the famous Marconi International Marine 365 keys and other classic British Maritime keys.

Please click on each image link to read. Run your mouse cursor down to the lower right corner of the page and click on the icon that appears and the image will enlarge. (Thanks to Chuck Brydges)

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Fig. 15: French PTT Model 1913

SOLD

From the late Murray Willer Collection: Notes left by Willer refer to this key as a 1900's Jardillier key used by the French Post Office. I shall have to take his word as there was no label.

Many French firms built this key in the 1900's, inclucing LAFEVE, Paris; Rene PESTY, Paris; L.MORS, Paris; H. PROVIN, Asnieres; RADIGUET, Paris; CAVALIERI. Many are without any markings of the maker as this one.
(Maybe the PTT themselves had a shop and as with the English postal svc they did not mark theirs ? )

(Thanks for added background from
Christian Chefnay, F9WT)

This key is of a rather compact size, top measuring abt. 5-3/8" x 3-1/8". It has been mounted upon a mahogany two tier plinth as the images show. Weight is abt. 1 lb
2-1/4 oz. This key has two contacts. thus three terminals, two on the side, one on the rear.

Jardillier telegraph instruments were made in Issy, Les Moulineaux, France. This particular key has no marking save a number "17" deeply imprinted into the bottom of the base. The knob appears to be of two color celluloid - almost horn like ?

Fig. 16: Mystery Foreign Key.

SOLD

This little jewel of a key simply has no markings. I have seen a sketch of a similarly made key labeled simply as an unknown foreign key. HERE are more views.

It measures abt 3-3/4"x 2-1/4". It weighs abt 9-7/8 oz. The wire leads are joined beneath the base and sealed in wax. I may remount this in the future as it is a quite practical, well made piece.