AMERICAN TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENT MAKERS, 1837-1900
(Second Edition, 2004)
Roger W.
Reinke ( Ruled Table Format - Copyright (c) 2004 )
ABOUT THE TELEGRAPH
MAKER’S LIST
This is a revision of a list I first developed in 1986. 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 The classic camelback key originally made by George M. Phelps seems to be replicated in every important respect by keys labeled Western Electric, Partrick & Carter, and Edison & Murrey [sic].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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENT MAKERS, 1837-1900
(Second Edition: 2004)
Roger Reinke (
Copyright (c) 2004 )
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
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) #########################