Telegraph (1860-1930)

Caton Linesman Telegraph Set (c. 1860's)

The Caton Linesman Telegraph Key (often referred to as the Caton Pocket Relay) was a masterpiece of 19th-century miniaturization, developed in the early 1850s by Judge John Dean Caton at his instrument shop in Ottawa, Illinois. Unlike the bulky, stationary "Key on Board" (KOB) units found in railroad depots, the Caton was a self-contained, ultra-portable telegraph system measuring roughly 5 x 2.25 inches, housed in a durable hard-rubber or wooden case. It featured horizontally mounted sounder coils and a miniature "strap" key, allowing linesmen or "telegraph scouts" to tap directly into uninsulated iron wires in the field. During the American Civil War, these units became legendary as the preferred tool for Union and Confederate spies, who used them to intercept enemy communications or send "false intelligence" by grounding the connection with a bayonet. Because of its exceptional build quality and its role in early military intelligence, the Caton remains one of the most historically significant and highly prized artifacts for telegraph collectors today.

Donation: John & Carol Babina Jr.

Homemade Telegraph Set

My grandpa created this WORKING Telegraph set with real old pieces of technology. When pressed, the telegraph makes a clicking noise; just like if you were using Morse Code in the 1800's!

Donation: John & Carol Babina Jr.

Fun Fact: Wireless telegraphs were used to communicate back to shore when the Titanic hit the ice berg.