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Signs of spring

Wildflowers are just now popping out at Theodore Payne Foundation. Poppies have buds so in another week they will be in bloom.

Mar 7, 2013

Photos: 12

Paul Seiler Electrical Works

Western Electric pony relay with Paul Seiler tag. Seiler was involved for a while with Electrical Construction & Maintenance, and later California Electrical works. The following article gives details of his career including a conflict of interest with his employer. Seiler held several patents including the glass insulator sold by California Electrical Works. http://www.cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=5&a=05Paul+Seiler.htm&year=1979

Feb 28, 2013

Photos: 5

Ohio Telegraph Transmitter Co. project

When I first saw this set on eBay I assumed the brass plate was a decorative code reference. After some research I found the patent and learned the plate was actually a transmission device. Serial numbers on devices of this type are always suspicious. It's #510 though likely they began numbering at 500 to create the impression they had sold lots of them. Not sure how many were made and I only know of one other instrument of this type in a private collection.

Dec 10, 2012

Photos: 18

Piergraph #2 SN 10

Dec 8, 2012

Photos: 11

Lyman key

Very nice example of a Lyman leaf spring pivot key. This one is legless with electrical connections on the top. These are not all that rare but finding one in good condition is.

Nov 27, 2012

Photos: 5

Crazy Old Witches

Sep 22, 2012

Photos: 4

Welcome Home Endeavor!

A bicycle adventure up to the Griffith Observatory to view the shuttle fly-over. We opted for a peak between the observatory and the Hollywood sign as there wasn't even standing room at the observatory parking lot. We left our bikes on the trail below and climbed up the dirt trail. A truck of park maintenance workers below guarded our bikes... nice guys and one a fellow cyclist.

Sep 21, 2012

Photos: 17

Vintage Colnago project

Colnago Bi-Titan frame and fork bought on eBay. SN 644 marked under bottom bracket. Frame is titanium, matching painted fork is steel. Camagnolo drive-train including Record rear derailleur, Chorus front derailleur, Chorus crankset. Record shifters, NOS Record headset, Cinelli stem and bars, Record seatpost. Custom built wheels by master wheelsmith Richard Wedeen: Velocity Deep-V Halo rims on Campagnolo Record hubs. All black Vredenstein Fortezza tires, Cinelli rubber bar tape, Fizik saddle with clip-on bag.

Sep 10, 2012

Photos: 8

Jerome Redding

Jerome Redding & Co. was located at 30 Hanover St., Boston, Mass. They made and sold telegraph instruments from 1877 to 1882, and possibly until 1885 as Redding Electrical Co. at the same address. Ads claimed they sold all types of telegraph, alarm and electrical devices. Harvey Redding held a patent for insulated wire which was 50% assigned to Jerome Redding.

Apr 23, 2012

Photos: 7

W.E. combo project

You rarely see a Western Electric Combo set for sale, but I have seen photos and drawings. I had an orphan key and sounder as well as a duplicate relay in my collection so decided to make my own combo. I did one of Bunnell equipment several years ago and it was an interesting challenge.

Feb 24, 2012

Photos: 15

National Electric KOB

Jan 13, 2012

Photos: 10

Victor key study

Study of W.E. version of the Victor key patent compared to the W.E. dual rod key.

Jan 8, 2012

Photos: 15

Bikes - TiCycles flat bar road bike project

Titanium frame made by Hyak TiCycles in Oregon, #TC56013. Frame was purchased used and refinished. Steel fork was sanded and repainted satin black. Niterider Moab HID light system really lights up the road for safe night riding. The lithium-ion battery is concealed in the rocket carrier in the front water bottle holder. Wheels are Mavic MA3 laced on Campagnolo Veloce hubs. Drivetrain and flat bar shifters are all NOS Campagnolo alloy finish.

Apr 2, 2011

Photos: 11

Telegraphy - Call Boxes

Messenger call boxes were used by various telegraph companies in public buildings such as banks and hotel lobbies. Boxes contain a spring loaded clock mechanism and a notched wheel. When activated a signal was sent to the telegraph office where a messenger was dispatched to pick up the message and bring it to the office to be sent. The technology is the same as used in police and fire alarm call boxes.

Jan 10, 2011

Photos: 30

Telegraphy - Coffe semi-automatic key

Beautiful reproduction by G0NVT of the very rare Coffe key, patent #812183. Only two originals are known to exist.

Jul 10, 2010

Photos: 10

Bikes - My Bicycles

Mar 16, 2010

Photos: 21

Bikes - Antique Track Bicycles

Antique track bicycles displayed at the coffee shop following the Sunday group rides. The gentleman who owns these has a large collection and is seen occasionally on Sundays riding through Kenneth Village on his high-wheeler.

Nov 29, 2009

Photos: 11

Telegraphy - Miniature telegraph set

Miniature telegraph set by New York Novelty Mfg. Co. Components are brass and it works!

Dec 30, 2008

Photos: 8

Telegraphy - Frey Key

Rarely found in any condition the Frey key was made by J.H. Bunnell Co. and is electrically like European keys. This key was complete when found and cleaned up nicely.

Nov 9, 2008

Photos: 19

Telegraphy - Semi-automatic keys or "Bugs"

Sep 22, 2008

Photos: 48

Telegraphy - Partrick & Bunnell, Partrick & Carter

Sep 20, 2008

Photos: 16

Telegraphy - J.H. Bunnell & Co.

Sep 12, 2008

Photos: 63

Telegraphy - Bunnell Telegraphic & Electrical Co.

Company organized by relatives of J.H. Bunnell who owned the patents. They were in business only a few years before merging with J.H. Bunnell. For more info see: www.telegraph-history.org

Sep 11, 2008

Photos: 11

Telegraphy - W.E. Mfg. Co./W.E. Co., Lewis era

Early Western Electric telegraph items made in Chicago plant. Many designs and examples of 3 patents held by Chicago plant manager Charles Lewis. W. E. Mfg. Co. dropped "Mfg," from their name around 1881 and became Western Electric Co. For more info on W.E. Mfg. Co. see: www.telegraph-history.org

Sep 9, 2008

Photos: 80

Telegraphy - Western Electric Co. (Steiner era)

Western Electric products from approx 1885 to 1900 made in New York and Chicago plants. Two notable key designs were patented by Josef Steiner.

Sep 8, 2008

Photos: 40

Telegraphy - Western Electric Co. 1900 +

Western Electric telegraph products made from approx. 1900 to 1930.

Sep 8, 2008

Photos: 22

Telegraphy - Greeley/Tillotson

Sep 7, 2008

Photos: 17

Telegraphy - G.M Phelps

This is a fine example of a Civil War era key made by inventor-instument maker George M. Phelps. The round brass-based sounder is unique to Phelps. For more information on Phelps see www.telegraph-history.org

Sep 6, 2008

Photos: 16

Telegraphy - New Haven Clock Co./National Electric

Instruments made by New Haven Clock Co. Electrical Dept. which was sold to National Electric.

Sep 5, 2008

Photos: 32

Telegraphy - Altoona Shops/PRR

Instruments made by and for Pennsylvania Railroad in their machine shops in Altoona, PA.

Sep 5, 2008

Photos: 22

Telegraphy - Misc.

Sep 4, 2008

Photos: 52

Telegraphy - Manhattan Electric Supply Co./MESCO

Many similarities to Bunnell and Western Electric products.

Sep 4, 2008

Photos: 6

Telegraphy - Ahearn & Soper

Ahearn & Soper was founded in 1881 and pioneered the communications industry in Canada. Based in Ottawa, the company is still in business today making bar code scanners and printers. The instruments shown here were made by J.H. Bunnell and all bear Bunnell patent info even though they are stamped "Ahearn & Soper". http://www.ahearn.com/english/contact/history.html

Sep 3, 2008

Photos: 6

Telegraphy - Learners' sets, practice keys and code instruction devices

Sep 2, 2008

Photos: 26

Telegraphy - Western Union

Western Union was founded in Rochester, NY in 1851 as The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company. It was renamed Western Union Telegraph Co. in 1856 and continued to pioneer the communications industry into the 20th century. On January 27, 2006 Western Union discontinued commercial messaging services. They remain in business doing international wire transfers.

Sep 1, 2008

Photos: 22

Telegraphy - Postal Telegraph Co.

Aug 1, 2008

Photos: 32

Critters

Jul 1, 2008

Photos: 46

Critters - Casper & Casey

Casper is a 10-year old mobrella cockatoo (umbrella x mollucan), a rescue bird who came to me from a broken home. Over time he has adapted well to his surroundings. He talks, sings, screams, enjoys watching television and taking showers. Casey is a Mealy Amazon acquired in 1982 when he was about two years old.

Jun 30, 2008

Photos: 34

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