Excerpt:
The name George M. Phelps is best known among collectors of telegraph keys for making a classic camelback style key. This highly sought after key, used by telegraphers during the 19th century to send Morse code, really represents just one small example of his talents as an inventor and machinist. His accomplishments and contributions to the growth of the telegraph industry in the United States during the 19th century were considerable. From humble beginnings as an apprentice machinist in Troy, New York, Phelps would eventually become recognized along with Thomas Edison as being one of the two leading telegraph electro-mechanicians in the country.