ARTIFAX antiquarian BOOKS
DODGE: THE TELEGRAPH INSTRUCTOR
This is a list of the various editions of "Dodge, G.M.: The Telegraph Instructor: Valparaiso, Indiana" that I am aware of. To see which editions we may have for sale, click on the link near the top of this page.
-- Tom French
Contents: Dodge wrote this book for use by the students at his Institute of Telegraphy in Valparaiso, Indiana. Dodge prepared students for a career as a railroad and Western Union telegrapher. This illustrated book covers telegraphy, the instruments and adjustment, Morse code, operating procedures, penmanship, duties of railroad employees, movement of trains, block signals, train orders, typewriters and typewriting, and so forth, with illustrations.
The Editions
The year and edition material in quotes are from
the title page. Unless otherwise noted, any change
or new feature was continued in later editions.
The first edition was published in 1899.
1900 "revised and enlarged", 242 numbered pages plus 6 un-numbered pages of typewriting exercises. About 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches. Two cover color variations: reddish-brown cover with green floral design endpapers, and dark blue cover with plain endpapers. Gilt (gold) title on cover and spine. The alphabetical index is at the front of the book. (Does not have the Institute section at back.)
1901 "revised and enlarged", 267 numbered pages plus 8 un-numbered pages of typewriting exercises. About 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches. Dark green cloth hardcover, green floral design endpapers. Gilt (gold) title on cover and spine. The alphabetical index is at the front of the book. (Does not have the Institute section at back.)
1901 as above, but dark blue cover on which in place of "by G. M. Dodge" is gilt stamped "Union Telegraph College, Quincy, Illinois." Schools sometimes had their texts specially bound like this, so don't be surpised to find this (and other editions) from other schools.
1903 "third and revised edition", 263 pages, about 4-3/4 x 7 inches. Two cover color variations: red or green cloth hardcover. Plain endpapers. Silver title on cover. The alphabetical index is at the back of the book. The last section describes Dodge's Institute and courses with photographs of the building and (empty) classrooms.
1908 "fourth and revised edition", about 4-1/2 x 6-3/4 inches. Green cloth hardcover with silver title on cover. Two variations: one has 260 pages including the index at the back. The other variation adds 15 numbered pages (to 275) describing Dodge's Institute and courses; in these photographs the classrooms are full of students.
1911 "fifth and revised edition", 306 pages, about 4-1/2 x 6-3/4 inches. Green cloth hardcover with silver title on cover. The book proper is 286 pages (including the two-page index at the back), followed by an unnumbered leaf, followed by twenty numbered pages (to page 306) describing Dodge's school, with photographs. For the first time, the Institute mentions wireless instruction.
1917 "sixth and revised edition", about 4-1/2 x 6-3/4 inches. Green cloth hardcover. Silver title on cover. For the first time, the title page mentions "Radio (Wireless)." Two variations: one has 318 pages including the index at the back. The other variation adds 29 numbered pages (to 347) describing Dodge's Institute and courses; in the photographs the classrooms are full of students.
1921 "seventh and revised edition", about 5-1/2 x 8 inches. Green cloth hardcover. Silver title on cover. There are two variations, one with 274 pages, and the other with 297 pages which includes the Institute description.
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copyright: Tom French