AMERICAN TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENT MAKERS, 1837-1900 (Second Edition, 2004)

 

                                                                Roger W. Reinke  ( Tabbed Format - Copyright (c) 2004 )

 

                                                                ABOUT THE TELEGRAPH MAKER’S LIST

 

This is a revision of a list that my son and I first developed in 1983.  The intent then and now was simply to provide a guide to makers of early telegraphic equipment, and especially the years they were in operation.  Since then, a number of interested and thoughtful persons have contributed additions and corrections to the list.  There are still many unanswered questions, however, so please regard this effort as a work in progress.

 

A collector of telegraphic equipment will notice that occasionally instruments from different makers share remarkably similar features.  The inevitable conclusion is that some instruments were made by one maker for another.  For example, J. H. Bunnell & Co. was the dominant maker from the 1880’s on.  Some Manhattan Electrical Supply Co. catalogs show illustrations of Manhattan instruments, but Bunnell’s name is on them – and the actual instruments differ in very few, insignificant ways.  The classic camelback key originally made by George M. Phelps seems to be replicated in every important respect by keys labeled Western Electric, Partrick & Carter, and Edison & Murrey [sic].  The frame of a Knox & Shain register looks exactly like the frame of Tillotson’s premium register.  A business connection between or among these makers seems evident, but the “proof” is yet to be discovered.

 

Further compounding the identification problem is manufacture by established makers for distribution by companies which did not make instruments themselves.  C. E. Jones and Brother of Cincinnati sold nicely made practice sets bearing their name, but the sets are identical to those of Partrick & Carter.  There are so many similar examples that it seemed helpful to divide the “real” makers from their agents, which we have tried to do in Parts I and II of the list.  Also, there were many individuals, typically engineers, who produced prototype, specialized, or patent model instruments which were never intended for the market.  They are not included in this listing.  Finally and probably most frustrating to the collector, many early makers did not consistently mark their instruments.  An educated guess based on arcane clues such as knurling or binding post styles is about all one can do.

 

Reviewing the list suggests that there was a telegraphic community of sorts in the early days.  Jesse Bunnell started out with the Chester’s family operation, then joined with Partrick and Tillotson before setting out on his own venture.  The days of telegraphy are now over, but I hope the list will contribute in some small way to recognition of and appreciation for the accomplishments of the early makers.  Oftentimes, they designed and produced instrumentation that far surpassed ordinary functional needs.

 

-- Roger W. Reinke, November 29, 2004

 

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               AMERICAN TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENT MAKERS, 1837-1900 (Second Edition: 2004)

 

                                                                  Roger Reinke ( Copyright (c) 2004 )

 

Part I: Firms and individuals believed to manufacture their own instruments

 

Maker                                               Address                                                  Dates             Remarks

 

Allen, Alx.                                           Rochester, NY                                          c.1870             Apparently made registers only

American Electrical Works                   61 Stewart St., Providence, RI                   c.1880             May have made only “Steiner” type keys

Avery, Thomas C.                               New York, NY                                         1848                Early maker of keys

Bain, Alexander                                                                                                   1849-51           Chemical printers for O’Reilly’s lines

Barnes, Edmund F.                                                                                              1847                “Columbian” register with Samuel K. Zook

Bliss, George H. & Co.                        41 3rd Ave., Chicago, IL                            1873-75           To Western Electric 4/15/1875; after, see Part II

Bradley, Dr. Leverett                           9 Exchange Pl., Jersey City, NJ                 1867-73           After Jan. 1873, made only measuring equipment

Buell, M. A.                                        26-27 Waring Block, Cleveland, OH           1870-76           At 86 Bank St. in 1875

Buell, M. A. & Sons                            76 Frankfort St., Cleveland, OH                 1876-82           144 Superior St. 1882-84; To W. B.Cleveland

Bunnell, J. H. & Co.                            106-108 Liberty St., New York, NY           1878-1988       76 Courtlandt St. from1890 to 1900

Burrell, Samuel J.                                 50 Broad St., New York, NY                     c. 1870            Made printing registers

Burritt, J. & Son                                  Ithaca, NY                                               c.1865             Apparently made registers only

California Electrical Works                   134 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA              1877-1908       1889 35 Market St.; 1892 agents for Western Elec.

Cardwell, Dr. G. A.                             New York, NY                                         c.1896             Little production

Caton Instrument Shop                         Ottawa, IL                                                1851-72           To Western Electric; superior machining

Chester, Charles T.                              104 Centre St., New York, NY                  1855-58           John N. Chester joined in1858

Chester, C. T. & J. N.                         “                                                              1858-72           John N. d. 1872

Chester, Charles T.                              “                                                              1872-80           Stephen Chester joined in 1867, then to Partrick

Chester, Partrick & Co.                       38 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA                     1868-72           To Partrick, Bunnell & Co.

Chubbuck, A. S. / S. W.                       Hotel St., Utica, NY                                  1852-69           Supplied much early Western Union equipment

Clark, James J.                                    Philadelphia, PA                                        1845-61           “& Sons” appears occasionally

Clark, J. J. & Co.                                 19 E. 20th St., New York, NY                    1861-66           Apparently in Harrisburg, PA in 1868

Clark, William                                      Philadelphia, PA                                        1846-47           James’ father, made “Harp” registers

Clark & Splitdorf                                 New York, NY                                         c.1865             Box relays and keys

Cleveland, W. B.                                 144 Superior St. S., Cleveland, OH             c.1884             Apparently practice sets only

Cooperative Manufacturing Co.            216 ½ Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA            1871-75           1875-76 at 218 Pear St.

Davis, Daniel, Jr.                                 Boston, MA                                              1842-48           To Palmer & Hall

Davis, William E.                                 319 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ             1869-74           1874 at 341 Newark Ave.

Davis & Watts                                    Baltimore, MD                                          1878-84           To Viaduct Mfg. Co.

Day, S. F. & Co.                                 Ballston Spa, NY (Saratoga County)          c.1865             Seldom found

DuBois, Charles H. & Son                   61 Ann St., New York                               1850-88           Fairly large business

Edison & Murray                                 10 Ward St., Newark, NJ                          1869-73           “Murrey” stamped on keys

Edmands & Hamblet                            40 Hanover St., Boston, MA                      c.1868             “Magneto” telegraph

Electric Improvement Co.                     Galesburg, IL                                            c.1872             To Western Electric Co.

Electric Telegraph Works                     2nd. & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA       c.1871             To Flemming, Potter & Co. See part II

Electrical Construction &                                                                                                           

     Maintenance Co.                            San Francisco, CA                                    1870-77           To California Electrical Works

Electrical Supply Co.                            109 Liberty St., New York, NY                 1875-85           Makers of the “Prosch” key

Electro Magnetic Mfg. Co.                   36 Broad St., New York, NY                     c.1875             Sought telegraph inventors

Facer, W. E.                                        48 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA                     c.1868             Few examples

Farmer, Moses G.                                Boston, MA                                              1852-57           Developed fire alarm system with. W. F. Channing

Farmer & Woodman                            “                                                              1857-62           Farmer invented duplexing

Foote, Pierson & Co.                           82-84 Fulton St., New York, NY                1896-?             Became a major supplier

Frederick, Pearce & Co.                      77-79 John St., New York, NY                  c.1875             Distinctive Registers

Frey, Joseph J. B.                                213 Church St., New York, NY                 1870-?             With A. Illig; “self closing” keys

Gaynor Electric Co.                             Louisville, KY                                           c.1875             Fire alarm equipment

Greeley, E. S. & Co.                            5&7 Dey St., New York, NY                    1885-96           To Foote, Pierson & Co.

Hall, Thomas                                       13 Bromfield St., Boston, MA                    1842-66           To Palmer & Hall

Henning, Robert                                   Ottawa, IL                                                c.1864-73        Superintendent of Caton Shop

Hicks & Shawk                                   144 Superior St., Cleveland, OH                 1869-84           Hicks made repeaters 1858-62; to Telegraph Supply

Hinds & Williams                                 318 Washington St., Boston, MA                1850-56           To Charles Williams, Jr.

Hochhausen, W.                                  132 William St., New York, NY                 c.1870             Many nicely made instruments

Hughes, David E.                                                                                                1855-59           Printers; to G. M. Phelps

Huttman, William E.                             154 S. Water St., Chicago, IL                    c.1867             Instruments “made to order”; also Milwaukee Address

d’Infreville, George                              New York, NY                                         c.1881             Apparently made only keys

Johnson, W. H.                                    Louisville, KY                                           c.1870             Superintendent at Western Union’s Louisville Shop

Keeling, J. S.                                       16 Broadway, New York, NY                   1865-67           Made registers; few if any other instruments

Knox (J. H.) & Shain (C. J.)                46 ½ Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA              1855-76           1876-91 at 716 Chestnut St., surveying instruments

Lannert & Decker                               Cleveland, OH                                          1877-81           Not often found

Lannert, J. A.                                      “                                                              1876-78           To Lannert & Decker

Lewis & Fowler Mfg. Co.                    27-35 Walworth St., Brooklyn, NY             1886-87           “Conklin” keys, few examples

Longstreet, J. H.                                  9 Barclay St., New York, NY                    1880-88           Seemed to specialize in sounders

Lundburg & Marwedel                         San Francisco, CA                                    1869-70           Employed Paul Seiler

Lyman, A. B.                                      9 Slater Ave., Cleveland, OH                     1875-80           91 ½ Seneca St. another address

"                                                         36 S. Water St., Cleveland, OH                  1880-94           To I. H. Moses; appears often

Manhattan Electrical Supply Co.           54 Water St., New York, NY                    1880-?             32 Courtlandt in 1888; prolific maker

Merchants’ Mfg. & Construction Co.    50 Broad St., New York, NY                     1872-76           At 40 Broad St. in 1876

Moses, I. H.                                        36 S. Water St., Cleveland, OH                  1888-97           Kept Lyman’s patterns

National Electric Co.                            Milford, CT                                               c.1890-?          Also had New York office

New Haven Clock Co.                         29 Murray St., New York, NY                   1883-90           Marked “Electrical Dept.;” to National Electric

Nickolaus & Kline                                                                                               c.1875             “Monitor” relay; very few examples

Norton, J. W.                                       177 Broadway, New York, NY                  1852-53           Chester was shop superintendent

“                                                         179 “                                                        1853-55           To Charles T. Chester

Palmer & Hall                                     New York, NY                                         1847-49           Boston in 1850

Partrick, Bunnell & Co.                        38 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA                     1872-75           NY office 22 Dey St.; to Partrick & Carter

Partrick & Carter                                38 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA                     1867-76           114 S. 2nd St. 1876-91; 125 S. 2nd St. 1891-97

Pearce & Jones                                   64-66 John St., New York, NY                  1872 - ?           Specialized in police and fire systems

Pearce, R. K. & Co.                            54 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA                     1878                38 S. 4th St. 1879; bought Tillotson’s Phila. Office

Pennsylvania Railroad Co.                    Altoona Shops, Altoona, PA                       c.1880             Distinctive instruments for company use only

Peterson, C.                                                                                                        c.1860             Apparently made keys only; few examples

Phelps, George M.                               Troy, NY                                                  1855-71           Pre-eminent maker; William P. in association

Pierson, E. M.                                                                                                     c.1860             Apparently made keys only; few examples

Pike, Benjamin, Jr.                               291 Broadway, New York, NY                  c.1880             Dial telegraphs; primarily a lab instrument maker

Pope, F. L. & Co.                                194 Fulton St., New York, NY                   1869-72           38 Vesey St. 1873-74; 80 Broadway 1874-?

Pope, Edison & Co.                             78-80 Broadway, New York, NY               c.1869             To F. L. Pope & Co.

Post & Co.                                          Cincinnati, OH                                          c.1878             Few examples

Putt, D. W. & Co.                               Wellsville, OH                                           1870-74           Mechanical practice sets

Redding Electrical Co.                          30 Hanover St., Boston, MA                      1884-85           Few examples

Redding, Jerome & Co.                        “                                                              1877-82           Presumably to Redding Electrical

Richards, J. B.                                     621 Grand St., New York, NY                   1854                Made Registers

Sargent, William D.                              812 Race St., Philadelphia, PA                   c.1871             To U.S. Telegraph & Supply Co.

Seiler, Paul Electrical Works                 406-08 Market St., San Francisco, CA        1888-1916       Few examples

Shawk & Barton                                  98 St. Clair St., Cleveland, OH                   1869                Very few examples

Shawk & Foote                                   55 Center St., Cleveland, OH                     1870                Very few examples

Shawk, George W.                               Cleveland, OH                                          c.1870             Shawk was Western Union Shop Superintendent

Sherman & Lyman                              Oberlin, OH                                              c.1875             Very few examples

Standard Electric Co.                           502 4th Ave., Louisville, KY                       1887                410 3rd Ave. in 1888; "M.Biggs" Key Pat'd 10/20/1886

Standard Electric Works                       Cleveland, OH                                          1883-84           Made “Stevens” keys

Telegraph Supply Co.                           40 Public Sq., Cleveland, OH                     1878                Related to Telegraph Supply & Mfg. Co.?

Telegraph Supply & Mfg. Co.               130-34 Champlain St., Cleveland, OH         1871-84           To W. B. Cleveland

Tillotson & Co.                                    262 Broadway, New York, NY                  1862-65           J. S. Keeling a partner

Tillotson, L. G. & Co.                           8 Dey St., New York, NY                         1865                E. S. Greeley a partner

“                                                         26 Dey St.,                                               1865-67           11 Dey St. 1868-72; 8 Dey St. 1872-79

“                                                         5 & 7 Dey St.,                                          1879-85           To E. S. Greeley & Co.

U. S. Telegraph & Supply Co.              812 Race St., Philadelphia, PA                   c.1872             Few examples

Union Electric Co.                               New York, NY                                         c.1875             Apparently made keys only

Utica Fire Alarm Telegraph Co.            106-08 Liberty St., Utica, NY                    1879-88           Apparently made practice sets only

Viaduct Mfg. Co.                                 Relay Station, Baltimore, MD                     1884                Primarily made practice sets; at 4 S. Howard in 1894

Watts & Co.                                        47 Holliday St., Baltimore, MD                   1872-78           To Davis & Watts 8/18/78

Welch & Anders                                 30 Hanover St., Boston, MA                      1876-78           Printers only; to Jerome Redding?

Western Electric Mfg. Co.                   220 E. Kinzie St., Chicago, IL                    1872-84           “Mfg” dropped in 1884; had other offices

Williams, Charles, Jr.                            109 Court St., Boston, MA                         1856-78           To Western Electric Mfg. Co.

 

 

Part II: Distributors, agents, or others who probably did not make the instruments on which their names appear

 

American Electrical Works                   461 Clark Ave., Cleveland, OH                  1894               

Anderson Bros.                                   Peekskill, NY                                            c.1875             Practice sets

Ayers, Tillotson & Co.                         333 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA              1865-67          

Barber, Palmer & Jones                       Utica, NY                                                 c.1875             To Utica Fire Alarm Telegraph Co.?

Bliss, George H. & Co.                        41 3rd Ave., Chicago, IL                            1873-75           To Western Electric Mfg. Co. 4/15/1875

“                                                         220 E. Kinzie St., Chicago, IL                    1876-79           At 76 Market St. 1879; to Electric Merchandising

Bliss, Tillotson & Co.                           126 S. Clark St., Chicago, IL                      1868-70           Also at 171 S. Clark St.

“                                                         54 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, PA                     1874               

Crain, George H. & Co.                       145 S. Clark St., Chicago, IL                      c.1871            

Day, W. E. & Co.                                Pittsfield, MA                                           1876                Practice sets

Delaney Patent Relay Co.                    61 Broadway, New York, NY                   1881                Partrick & Carter made Delaney’s keys

Durant, Charles                                   86 Nassau St., New York, NY                   1869                May have been connected with Pope

Electric Merchandising Co.                   76 Market St., Chicago, IL                         1879                George H. Bliss manager

Fleischmann’s Electrical Works            1226 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA            c.1875             Practice sets

Fleming, Potter & Co.                          Pine & Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA       1870-71           At 2nd & Chestnut Sts. 1871-?

Gilliland & Co.                                     41 Dey St., New York, NY                       1875               

Gray & Barton                                    162 S. Water St., Chicago, IL                    1869                479 State St. 1870-72; to Western Electric Mfg. Co.

Grinnell, H. B. & Co.                           7 Murray St., New York, NY                    1875-76          

Jenkins, M. R.                                     Browning, MO                                          1886               

Jones, C. E. & Bro.                             58 Pike’s Opera House, Cincinnati, OH      1878-80           51 W. 4th St. 1880-82; Carlisle Bldg. 1882-87

Jones Electrical Mfg. Co.                     New York, NY                                         c.1890             Bunnell agent?

Keating Electrical Co.                          Corry, PA                                                 c.1880            

Mack, F. G. & Co.                               55 ½ Frankfort St., Cleveland, OH             1877-?            

Maynard, George C.                            1711 G St. N.W., Washington, DC             1874                Agent for D. W. Putt & Co.

Morgan, B. L. & Co.                           P.O.Box 122, Louisville, KY                      c.1886             Agent for "M. Biggs" key pat'd 10/26/86; few examples

Pennsylvania Telegraphic Agency         Waverly Heights, PA                                1874-?            

Pope, R. W.                                        Box 5278, New York, NY                         c.1876            

Rogers, H. D. & Co.                            161-65 Pearl St., Cincinnati, OH                 c.1878            

Rosenfeld, Eugene I.                            Baltimore, MD                                          c.1875             Agent for Watts

Shaw Electric Co.                                Philadelphia, PA                                        c.1880             Practice sets

Smith, F. C.                                         1041 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA                 1886                “Herbert” key

Springer, L. C.                                     162 S. Water St., Chicago, IL                    c.1865            

Ware, H.                                             Cincinnati, OH                                          c.1865            

Wessman, G. C. & Son                        209 Centre St., New York, NY                  1871                Gustav listed in 1853 at 11 Spruce St.

 

 

Part III: Makers or, agents believed to have telegraph interests but for whom more information is needed:

 

Blattner                                               St. Louis                                                   c.1851            

Bulkley, Charles S.                                                                                              c.1848            

De Mier, John R.                                 Coulterville, IL                                          1877               

Dent                                                                                                                   c.1865            

Donaldson, Dr. R. B.                           Washington, DC                                        c.1848            

Empire Electrical Mfg. Co.                   27-38 Walnut St., Brooklyn, NY                 c.1887            

Mona Mfg. Co.                                    P.O.Box 178, Newark, NJ                         1874               

Palmer & Barber                                 Utica, NY                                                                       To Utica Fire Alarm Co.

Rogers, Henry J.                                  New York, NY                                         c.1850            

 

 (Reformatted by Randy Cole. Edited by Tom Perera)   #########################