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The Telegraph Office - George M. Phelps

George M. Phelps, Telegraph Instrument Maker Troy, Williamsburg and New York City An early significant telegraph instrument maker, 1855 - 1871 George M. Phelps is noted by historians as a major contributor to the development of printing telegraphs and as the long time technical director of Western Union Telegraph Co. Phelps also manufactured telegraph keys and associated instruments. Key collectors who have seen keys and other instruments produced by Phelps, will certainly agree with James D. Reid's (premier 19th century telegraph historian) observation of 1879, " The apparatus manufactured under his [Phelps] supervision is noted for elegance of design and the superiority of its performance. In beauty and excellence of finish, the products of his establishment are unexcelled by any of the world's celebrated workshops." These statements certainly describe Phelps keys, relays and registers. The statements also extend to his other telegraphic contributions, namely printing telegraph systems of the 1850s, 60s and 70s. (Double click on either of the sounder pictures to the right for a full sized image.)

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