I've really enjoyed the articles concerning fabulous and rare insulator finds; many purchased at bargain prices. The "Mac's Believe It Or Not" series has been especially exciting. I'd like to retell something that happened to me...

This story take us back many years, back to the 11th National at Herkimer, New York. Because I'm interested in telegraph apparatus, I was on the look-out during the three days of the show. A bottle collector had a key, sounder and part of a resonator box on his table and that was about it for apparatus. The key looked different and unusual but appeared to be mounted on a black plastic base which led me to believe it was of a fairly modern manufacture. I looked it over again later during the show and saw that the only marking on it was "PATENT APP'D FOR" on the lever; but alas, the dealer would only sell the three pieces as a unit. On the last day of the show, I decided to try and acquire the key, as it was quite different from any other key in my collection, and luckily the dealer decided to sell it separately for $2.00. (I figured that for $2.00 I couldn't go wrong).

Back at Ray Klingensmith's table I began to clean the key as it was very dirty and dusty. You can imagine my surprise as minute lettering began to appear and the name L. G. Tillotson was revealed. What I thought to be a modern key turns out to be a rare key of circa 1884 manufacture.

The base and knob are not black plastic, but the brown, hard rubber common on early instruments. This I discovered later when I took the key out into the sunshine. Even though the key knob is chipped and it is missing its cut-out switch, I consider this to be an amazing find for only $2.00!

Close-up of manufacturer's marking

Telegraph key shown actual size

Illustration from the eighteenth edition of "Smith's Manual of Telegraphy," 
published by L. G. Tillotson & Co. (circa 1884) from the Glenn Sievert Collection.

INTERESTING NOTES

1. The Victor key represents a radical departure from the common pivot & trunnion design of most telegraph keys. The Victor key uses a knife edge bearing principle "which in mechanics is considered the most perfect bearing for any lever having a free motion where great delicacy of movement is required." (From E. S. Greeley & Co. Catalogue & Price list, Sixth Edition (circa. 1894)

2. The Victor telegraph key was used to win the World's Prize at the National Fast Sending Tournament in New York. Winning the prize on April 10, 1890 was Frank L. Catlin with 251 words in 5 minutes.

3. By pressing his finger upon the Victor key, President Cleveland opened the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, May 1, 1893. This was the ordinary form of the Victor key, except it was made of gold and had a knob of ivory.

A final note: I was able to purchase a Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Box and Tape Register from Otto Boll on the last day of the show. Look for this fire alarm apparatus and more in future "GO-WITH" articles.