Telegraph (Practice Set)

Object/Artifact

-

Waseca County History Center

Name/Title

Telegraph (Practice Set)

Entry/Object ID

1.07.56

Description

E. F. Johnson Company Product. Telegraph Practice Set. Material: plastic, metal. Size: 5 1/2" W. x 6" L. x 1 1/2" H. Description: brown Bakelite - rectangular base imprinted: "Model 450 Practice Set, Speed X, San Francisco" - three nickel plated brass metal posts at top left labeled:- "Buzzer, Battery, Key" - brass key arm with brown Bakelite push button extends forward over base - arm mounted to base and attached to spring on right side - silver contacts - "Speed X" printed on metal arm - metal function apparatus on left side with removeable plastic cap - printed on cap: "Speed X". (Unit functions well at 3 Volts. This set makes a tone for code practice for radio telegraphy.)

Context

Model: Speed-X Practice Set #450 (114-450) Date: 1947-1967 Type: Straight (Hand key), Open-frame on a code-practice base with buzzer Manufacturer: E.F. Johnson Co. Address: Waseca, MN U.S.A. Designer: Les Logan Contacts: 1/8" dia. silver Frame: Nickel-plated brass Arm: Nickel-plated steel Knob: Standard, brown phenolic (moulded Bakelite), 1-1/8" dia. Hardware: Nickel-plated brass Features: Constant-frequency, adjustable buzzer (3.0-4.5Vdc, 2-ohms) like #400 (114- 400) with silver contacts. Two mounting holes, and three binding posts. History: This type of KOB (Key on Board) was very popular among beginner Radio Amateurs. The following dates, company names, and addresses show some of the history behind this key. (1) 1926-1929, Les Logan Company (Owned by Les Logan), 646 Jessie Street, San Francisco, California, USA (no zip code). (2) 1930-1941, Speed-X Radio Manufacturing Company (Owned by Les Logan). (3) 1942-1946, Speed-X Manufacturing Company (Owned by Les Logan). (4) 1947-1967, E.F. Johnson Company, 224 Second Avenue Southwest, Waseca, Minnesota, USA. (5) 1969-date, Wm. M. Nye Company (This company never offered a code practice set). Comments: Originally, a standard "Code" card was supplied with each individually-packed unit. Buzzer operates on two (series-connected) dry cells (1.5Vdc each) or one "C" battery (4.5Vdc) (This is different from a "C" cell). An extra hole was drilled between the "KEY" terminals for a cable or wires to enter the base. This is a convenient place for mounting a strain-relief cable clamp. (Please note: as of 8-19-2008 no "extra hole" was found on artifact. Note might apply to a different artifact.) Net weight is 12oz. This item is for radio telegraphy. Waseca business: E.F. Johnson Co.; E.F. Johnson Company; E.F. Johnson Corporate Headquarters; E.F. Johnson Company Corporate Headquarters; E.F. Johnson Co. Corporate Headquarters; E. F. Johnson Co.; E. F. Johnson Company; E. F. Johnson Corporate Headquarters; E. F. Johnson Company Corporate Headquarters; E. F. Johnson Co. Corporate Headquarters.

Cataloged By

vanessa

Lexicon

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

Telegraph (Practice Set)

Class

Telecommunication T & E

Category

Tools & Eq for Communication

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Create Date

March 19, 2007

Update Date

July 29, 2025