Signal Electric Mfg Telegraph Key Sounder Railroad Morse Code

Signal Electric Mfg Telegraph Key Sounder Railroad Morse Code

Purchased a few years ago and never updated.   I was always planning to add the story to the location of these two items

Made in the USA, in the 40's, by Lionel Corporation and used during the WWII years.
The J-38 type of CW/Morse keys were used by all branches of the US military. Were manufactured as part of the the war effort by a few specialized US companies. They manufactured them almost identical and sometimes it is hard to recognize the factory that produced that particular model.

Some of the companies were:
American Radio Hardware (ARH), Lionel Corporation, Telegraph Apparatus Corporation (TAC) and there were two more of unknown manufacture: One made entirely of brass including its frame and, the last one, made entirely of white metal including the frame.

They look all the same and parts are interchangeable between different manufacturers.
Very small differences that could give away the possible manufacturer are known.
The most easily type of J-38 CW keys to identify is the one made by the Lionel Corporation.

Lionel J-38 CW Morse Key

Lionel J-38 CW Morse Key

Lionel Morse Code J-38 base WWII Signal Corps US Army Telegraph Key

Lionel Morse Code J-38 base WWII Signal Corps US Army Telegraph Key

Made in the USA, in the 40's, by Lionel Corporation and used during the WWII years.

The J-38 type of CW/Morse keys were used by all branches of the US military. Were manufactured as part of the the war effort by a few specialized US companies. They manufactured them almost identical and sometimes it is hard to recognize the factory that produced that particular model.

Some of the companies were:

American Radio Hardware (ARH), Lionel Corporation, Telegraph Apparatus Corporation (TAC) and there were two more of unknown manufacture: One made entirely of brass including its frame and, the last one, made entirely of white metal including the frame.

They look all the same and parts are interchangeable between different manufacturers.

Very small differences that could give away the possible manufacturer are known.

Telegraph Key Sounder Railroad Morse Code

Telegraph Key Sounder Railroad Morse Code

My collection but was too shy to display public from 2013

Parts of a Telegraph (Straight) Key

This is the Bunnell "Triumph" key. First introduced in 1906, this one can be no earlier than 1918, when the wedge lip was added. Click on the pictures to see a larger image.

LIONEL J-38 TELEGRAPH KEY

LIONEL J-38 TELEGRAPH KEY

Made in the USA, in the 40's, by Lionel Corporation and used during the WWII years.
The J-38 type of CW/Morse keys were used by all branches of the US military. Were manufactured as part of the the war effort by a few specialized US companies. They manufactured them almost identical and sometimes it is hard to recognize the factory that produced that particular model.

Some of the companies were:
American Radio Hardware (ARH), Lionel Corporation, Telegraph Apparatus Corporation (TAC) and there were two more of unknown manufacture: One made entirely of brass including its frame and, the last one, made entirely of white metal including the frame.
They look all the same and parts are interchangeable between different manufacturers.
Very small differences that could give away the possible manufacturer are known.
The most easily type of J-38 CW keys to identify is the one made by the Lionel Corporation.