Leonarde Keeler, above all others involved in the history of modern polygraphy, can be considered as one of it’s founders. He was born in 1903 in North Berkeley, California. While in high school, he worked for the Berkeley Police Department for August Vollmer. He assisted John Larson during his early polygraph work. At the time, John Larson was beginning his experiments into detecting deception using his "breadboard" polygraph. A cumbersome instrument, requiring smoked drums, he tested criminal suspects for the Berkeley Police Department. Leonarde Keeler was fascinated with the process, a fascination which would turn into a life long pursuit. He would sneak into the basement of the Berkeley Police Department and "test" his friends using this cumbersome device.

The instrument itself had many drawbacks. It took a half hour to set up. The paper used to record physiological responses had to be smoked and was smudgy and messy. They were very brittle and even with the utmost care, they broke and cracked. The pens on this instrument actually scratched tracings onto this smoked paper. To preserve the charts once the examination was completed, they had to be shellacked and stored in cans. Although the forerunner of modern polygraph instruments, Keeler found it lacking in many respects. Nicknamed "Sphyggy" by the local media, John Larson’s instrument was Leonard Keeler’s first instrument.

The American Polygraph Historical Society was gifted what is to be believed the prototype of the Western Electro Mechanical Company’s first polygraph. The instrument was built for Leonarde Keeler by William Scherer, and used by Leonarde Keeler himself. Over time, Keeler replaced it with many new instruments, but saved it for posterity. It was given to Leonard Harrelson, who became Keeler’s confidant and director of the Keeler Polygraph Institute until Keeler’s death in 1949 as a memento of their friendship. Leonard Harrelson presented it to the A.P.H.S. in 1996 for preservation.

It has been ravaged by time, and currently mounted in a mahogany box consisting of the top panel and kymograph. It is believed to be the prototype instrument due to it’s lack of any face plate or markings on the top panel, nor any evidence that they ever existed. Production instruments would have included these identifiers, but the prototype would not have needed them. Leonard Harrelson reports that this particular instrument was used by Leonarde "Nard" Keeler in 1944 to test a group of German POW’s imprisoned at Fort Getty, Rhode Island, to determine their suitability to become police officers in post WWII Germany.

This Instrument is for sale for $1000, plus shipping and handling.

We accept all major credit cards.

See 'Buying an Instrument" for details on buying our instruments.

The Model #301 replaced Leonard Keeler’s second polygraph invented in 1925. It was the first polygraph instrument manufactured for Keeler by Associated Research, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois. The Model #302 was introduced in the 1950's and added the "third channel," called a "psychogalvanometer" to the Keeler instrument.

This instrument was manufactured by 'Associated Research' of Chicago, Illinois and utilizes seven batteries, along with an AC power source. It is housed in a steel case with wrinkle finish and chromium trim. The cover is attached to the case with slip hinges allowing the cover to be removed.

The chart drive unit is powered by a synchronous motor at speeds of either six or twelve inches per minute. There are four recording pens, the lower pen and its associated controls comprise the pulse-blood pressure unit, while the longer pen records electrodermal variations. Located above the electrodermal pen is the pen for recording respiration changes, and at the top of the panel is the stimulus marker pen actuated by means of a flexible cable attached at the lower left of the panel. At the center of the panel is a standard sphygmomanometer, used as a guide to proper inflation of the blood pressure cuff.

This instrument is not in The Polygraph Museum's Collection. The picture and narrative is courtesy of Ron Decker.

It utilizes seven batteries, along with an AC power source. It is housed in a steel case with wrinkle finish and chromium trim. The cover is attached to the case with slip hinges allowing the cover to be removed.

The chart drive unit is powered by a synchronous motor at speeds of either six or twelve inches per minute. There are fthree recording pens, the lower pen and its associated controls comprise the pulse-blood pressure unit, while the longer pen records electrodermal variations. At the center of the panel is a standard sphygmomanometer, used as a guide to proper inflation of the blood pressure cuff.

This instrument is in very bad shape and should be used for parts only.

In 1952, Russell Chatham was awarded a contract to perform polygraph examinations of employees of the Atomic Energy Facility at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. When awarded the contract, Chatham had Associated Research build instruments for him with his name on them.

They were two pen units, a cardiosphygmograph and a pneumograph with an Esterline Angus two speed sprocket drive kymograph. No more than 20 of these instruments were ever manufactured. Fewer than 5 have survived.

The Keeler Polygraph Model 6317 shown here was manufactured by the 'Associated Research Company' of Chicago, Illinois. This unit was developed and placed into service during the later part of 1950, at a time when the most common use for the polygraph was in the field of business for employment screening. During the Korean War, this instrument was utilized by the C.I.A, and again in the early 1960' to polygraph Cubian Nationals to determine if they were spies. This instrument was designed to simulate a piece of luggage, not only to meet F.A.A. regulations but to prevent it from being easily detected throughout the espionage community.

The Model 6317 was one of the first instruments in production utilizing a completely transistorized circuitry. It also boasted itself as being one of the first fully portable polygraph instruments. The Model 6317, along with its sister models developed by 'Associated Research' were in service until the early 1960's. This instrument sold for approximately $1450.00

Specially made for Dick Arther of the National Training Center in New York, and available only to graduates of his polygraph school, the Arther II is a modification of the Keeler Model #6308. It included a GSR component, and well as a stimulus marker.

This instrument, serial #41, was manufactured in 1970.

It was used between 1971 and 1974 by Louis Seibt, the newly trained polygraph examiner for the Fort Wayne, Indiana Police Department, and retired in 1974 with the purchase of a new Lafayette instrument.

$500, plus shipping and handling.

The 'Keeler Polygraph' Model 6338 shown here was the first 'Plethysmic Polygraph' manufactured by 'Associated Research' of Chicago, Illinois in the early 1950's. This instrument is the first in the 'Pacesetter Series' which incorporated for the first time a integral photo/optical plethysmograph. The Model 6338 was introduced as a four channel instrument, which recorded simultaneously changes in relative blood pressure, heart rate, pulse wave amplitude, blood volume, oxygenation of the blood, respiration and electrical skin resistance. These reading are obtained by utilizing electronic and pneumatic monitoring.

The 6338 required a 115 volt AC current. It weighs twenty- four pounds and is 18" x 11" x 6". The 6338 incorporated newly designed printed circuits, and a new inking system where the pens are fed from removable, individually capped ink bottles with colored ink available. The newly designed vent valves have a positive lock to prevent leaks.

The design of the cardio cuff, pump bulb assembly and clamp remained basically the same in the 'Pacesetter Series'. There were three different traveling cases available, which conformed to Federal Aviation requirements at the time for travel. The price for this model was $2325.00. The 'Keeler Polygraph' Model 6338 remained in service through the early 1960's.

$400, plus shipping and handling.