This page discusses the types of telegraph instruments used in the early 1860s, and what substitute instruments Civil War re-enactors may wish to use.

The typical landline system in this era consisted of a main line relay in series with a key at each station. The relay contacts operated a local circuit in each station, which consisted of a sounder and a battery. Further description of this basic Morse circuit can be found on other websites and books.

This page will not discuss batteries since they are usually not in view, except to note that the main line batteries probably consisted of Grove or Bunsen cells at each end of the line. The local battery in each station was likely two Daniell cells. The Calloud gravity cell (crowfoot cell) was probably not in general use until after the Civil War, but the exact date is unknown and some re-enactors use (or display) one to illustrate the local battery. Re-enactors might use hidden dry cells (lantern batteries) or a low D.C. voltage power supply operated from A.C. mains.

The main line relay coil resistance would typically be around 150 ohms, and the local sounder 4 ohms. However, if only a single station or office is replicated, they may be of almost any resistance (attention paid more to the "look" of the instruments), and the voltage supply selected or adjusted for proper operation.

Vintage Civil War instruments are scarce, collectible and expensive. While a movie property manager may have the resources to rent original instruments from a collector, and some re-enactors will be able to construct accurate reproductions, most re-enactors will make do with "close to the era" instruments. The purpose is not to mislead the public, but to educate them by using instruments as similar to those of the era as possible, without risking damage to an original rare instrument.

Whenever possible, substitute instruments should have some of the attributes of mid-60s instruments. Rich Dees, a Civil War re-enactor, has thought about the problem and posted a page giving his ideas here. I agree with his conclusions and will offer additional ideas of my own.

In the photos below, click on the main image for a larger view.

THE KEY:

This is a Phelps camelback leg key as mentioned by Dees. There were other style keys used in the CW era: the straight lever key, and the drop (or step) lever key. All had in common a heavy brass lever, and the leg style (the wires connected to the mounting bolts, or "legs," under the table).

Phelps improved the camelback key in 1860 by adding the spring tension adjusting screw (show on this key), but many keys made or used during the 1860s lacked this feature. The absence of the tension screw would, for a re-enactment instrument, suggest a key of this era.

This is an 1880s Bunnell leg key as mentioned by Dees. It is a nice substitute key for a re-enactor, and much less expensive than a Phelps camelback. But it has the anachronistic 1881 patent steel lever, rather than a heavy brass lever.

This is a similar 1880s Bunnell leg key; the steel lever has been replaced with a reproduction lever. It satisfies the two goals of a CW era key: (1) a heavy brass lever on (2) a leg key. In addition, it omits the spring tension screw. If you have the materials, you could make such a lever for your leg key.

Artifax Books offers complete replica keys similar to this, in both straight and drop lever styles on this page.

Keys of the 1860s were not of the "legless" design -- that is, they did not have the wire terminals on the frame of the key. That feature came along much later. But some re-enactors prefer this style, especially if it has a reproduction 1860s style lever, since a legless key is simpler to mount and wire on the operating table.

THE SOUNDER:

This is an original Civil War era sounder. It is a Phelps/American Telegraph Company sounder dating to 1861-66. Note the separate lever pivot supports, or standards.

Dees mentions thumbscrew wire terminals and comments on the "spring return mechanism." Of course this sounder, being original to the period, has the appropriate features. While the horizontal spring was most common, some sounders of the era used a vertical spring mounted from the lever to the base.
Click here for another view.

This sounder is marked only E&NARR (European and North American Railroad, likely made by Tillotson), and dates to 1868-72. The top of the pivot standards are now connected, and the lever stop standard, or anvil, is a different design.

But this sounder has the thumbscrews, a horizontal spring, and an "old look." While sounders of this era are still scarce and somewhat expensive, they would make a nice substitute.
Click here for another view.

This is a "Partrick & Bunnell" sounder from 1872-75. Two "modern" changes make their apearance: The pivot frame has taken on the rounded top appearance, and the stop standard is the new style. However, the horizontal spring and fancy thumbscrew terminals make it an acceptable substitute.
Click here for another view.

This J.H. Bunnell sounder bears an 1875 patent date. It is a slightly smaller size than those shown above, but it has the old style thumbscrew terminals and a horizontal spring with an interesting adjustment screw support post. The spring is a "push" or compression type rather than the older type tension spring, but the availability and lower cost of this sounder recommend it as an economical substitute. (There is an almost identical model sounder with a vertical tension spring having the adjuster on the wood base, which would also be acceptable for re-enactment.)

Artifax Books often has these and other substitute sounders available on this page.

THE RELAY:

This is an early relay shown at page 82 of Prescott (1866) probably dating to the mid-1850s. Note the old-style wire terminals and spring tensioner.

Dees mentions preferring a style of relay with a square fixture; he may be referring to the style of the stop armature on this 1870s Tillotson relay. While somewhat scarcer and more expensive than the later "gooseneck" relays, they do turn up occasionally and make a fine re-enactment instrument.

The curved gooseneck armature stop on this Signal Electric Manufacturing Company relay reveals it to be of later manufacture. However, it still retains the old-style wire terminals and spring tensioner. These early attributes, its large size (similar to the Tillotson above) and relatively low price make it a favorite of many re-enactors. You may also find this style made by Bunnell and other makers.

Artifax Books may have similar relays available on this page.

In addition to offering telegraph instruments to collectors and re-enactors, Artifax Books also offers (who would have thought?) books! Appropriate to this page, we offer a hardcover reprint of Prescott's 1866 edition of History, Theory and Practice of the Electric Telegraph on this page.