Noob makes historical find!

[Jet Peddler]

Went out for only 30 minutes to clear my head today and hunt a historic spot (same place Pescadore found his Franklin half yesterday), and ended up digging the solid brass base to a 1890-1919 Menominee telegraph key. Very fun find as I knew what it was the moment I saw it in the plug. Going to continue my research and narrow down the model/year of manufacture.

 

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[Gare]

Unique find for sure _ Sure glad you knew Welcome to Treasurenet

 

[Blackfoot58]

Congrats!

 

[UnderMiner]

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

I wonder at what date in history did someone say 'Meh .. just toss this out back'

 

[Gare]

Hey Underminer GREAT picture thank you !!!

 

[ToddsPoint]

I had a ham radio novice license back in the 70s. My license was for CW (code) only. I got pretty good at it and could copy 20 wpm. I still have my key. Thanks for the memories!

 

[BennyV]

Try cool

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Great find - congrats !

 

[Gare]

GREAT Picture TODD

 

[Mackaydon]

Great save !!
Some history:
Signal Electric Manufacturing Company, Menominee, Michigan (1919). Founded as Menominee Electric and Mechanical company, since ~1904 they also produced wireless radio equipment.
1892 Menominee Electrical and Mechanical Company is founded. Products: Crank telephone generators, telephones and switch boards. .
1919 Menominee Electric Co. is reorganized and renamed the Signal Electric Manufacturing Co. Products: Bells, Wireless Radio Instruments, Medical Batteries, Telegraph Instruments, small electric motors, fans, portable electric hand tools.
Source: Menominee Plant History from the Menominee County Historical Society records.
Don in SoCal

 

[mjb Mike]

nice very interesting

 

[Timbermaster]

There’s something you don’t see every day. That’s the kind of stuff I like finding!

 

[WoodsDigger]

I had a ham radio novice license back in the 70s. My license was for CW (code) only. I got pretty good at it and could copy 20 wpm. I still have my key. Thanks for the memories!View attachment 2197286

I never broke one in 40 years of sending. Interesting, train station close, WU relocate ? In with the telephone out with the straight key. I use a paddle now but straight key hard to break so the rest is out there.

 

[oldmxrat]

Very interesting find, congrats!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Neat old find.

 

[The Rebel]

That's a great find!

That's probably the 1st one I've ever seen posted.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

Went out for only 30 minutes to clear my head today and hunt a historic spot (same place Pescadore found his Franklin half yesterday), and ended up digging the solid brass base to a 1890-1919 Menominee telegraph key. Very fun find as I knew what it was the moment I saw it in the plug. Going to continue my research and narrow down the model/year of manufacture.View attachment 2197262

cool find and great save, wtg