Numfier 76 — 7ufij/fillgust 2001

Mfl/[czgnimat a 75

Tfie Mc£fr0yJunior 31g Key

I I The InternationalJournal of IMorse I I I I Telegraphy I EDITORIALAND SUBSCRIPTIONOFFICES: Morsum Magnificat.The Poplars. Wistanswick. Market Drayton. Shropshire TF9 28A. England. Phone: +44 (0i [630 638306 FAX: 444(0) I630 63805]

MORSUM MA GNIF1CA T wasfirstpublishedas a quarterlymagazine in Holland, in 1983. by the late Rinus Hellenions PAOBFN.It has been prenlueedjoar.then six times a year in Britain since I 986. am] up to January 1999 was published and edited by Tony Smith. G4FAI and Geoff Arnold. GJGSR. It aims to provide intemational coverage of all aspects of Morse telegrapliy. past present and future. MORSUM MAGNIFICAT is for all Morse enthusiasts, amateur or profiassional. aetire or retired. It brings together material which would otherii‘ise be lost to posterity. providing an invaluable souree of interest. reference and record relating to the traditions and practice of Morse. EDITOR: Zyg Nilski. 0301(1) email: editorGMorseMagcom MM home page - www.MorseMag.com © The Nilski Partnership MMl Printed by Hertfordshire Display plc. Ware. Hens

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This is printed on the top litre of the address label. Also. we shall jog your memory with a renewal reminder included with that final issue. MM Back Issues Issues Nos. 34.35 and 38-75 available from the Editorial offices (see top of page). Price including postage £2.75 each to UK: £2.95 to Europe: £3.25 (US $5) Rest of the World by airmail. Deduct 20% if ordering 3 or more

FRONT COVER The very rare McElroy Junior bug key. A low cost economy model made of pressed steel. Apparently very few were sold.

Photo/Collection: George Robbins. G3LNG Comment Contents

It is always a little difficult in selecting the 2 News alticles for any issue. The aim is to provide for 6 The First Ferdinand Braun the and I spread of interests of MM readers Day - Report hope the balance is light. New articles are 8 Telegraph Keys at the 2001 always very welcome. Dayton Hamfest Included in this issue is a report on the 12 The Original W9TO Keyer/ first FerdinandBraun Day by SylvesterFocking, Comments from a Practice translated by Thomas Roth. Braun made a Session / Negative Polarity major contributions to the development of Keying wireless telegraphy and, in 1909, was awarded 17 The GSGJX Automatic Keyer the Nobel Prize for Physicsjointly with Marconi 20 From ‘Knock and Slap‘ to for this work. Telex It seems that the Dayton Hamfest was an 21 Morse by Internet exciting expen'encethis year forkey collectors, 22 Silent Keys in more ways than one. This issue includes an 24 Showcase abridged report by Tom Perera on some of the 26 Morse in the Australian discovered. interesting keys Antarctic Pan 6 — Early Of special interest to some readers is a 1960‘s report by Tony Smith on Morse on the Intemet, 32 Plane Language where operators can send CO and hold live 34 Info Please! QSOs on the cyber—waves. No doubt we will 36 Telegraphic Speed and hear much more of this in the future. It is an Shortcuts interesting thought that internet sites can be set 38 The Talking Machine and the up that are effectively, CW only. Railways Part 2-Order Out of My sincere thanks to all MM Chaos contributors, whether or not your articles. 41 MM Bookshelf photos, information etc. have appeared yet. 43 Your Letters Without your enthusiasm to produce them and 47 Readers Ads the passion of everyone to read them, MM would be nothing. flair/en‘s Zyg Nilski, G30KD 16 The Radio Officers Correction Association In MM75, page 38 the bottom photograph was incorrectly 19 FISTS CW Club described as a Redifon marine key. It should have read 22 Radio Bygones “McEIroy Chrome Stream Key". Also page 39, top 23 The QRP Component Co. photograph, John Elwood’s old callsign is given. it should 37 G-QRP Club read “WW7P”. My apologies for these errors — Ed. 47 MEGS W76 —ju€y/J4ugust 2001 News

Heliographs Alive & Well the top management of Kachina are hams. so this has not been an easy decision to make. However, given the reduced There is an active heliograph re-enactor worldwide demand for amateur radio in grouporganisedby Jim Riddlein Prescott, general. and HF radio in particular. it Arizona. He says, “Although there are seems the only sensible choice for us to quite a few interested in the ‘Hg‘ (quick make. as Mercury), few. including hams. seem From discussions with some of the effort needed veryexcited about extra the top contacts in our industry over the become with to reasonably competent last several years, it has become obvious the Hg and visual code. Yes. CW is a that most companies manufacturing dying language — it‘s really sad. It may amateur radio products these days be but I haven‘t not essential for radio, (including the top Japanese brands) do so it the figured out any way around for out of a labor of love. supporting the heliograph! I got it all backwards - the losses from other more-profitable only reason I am a ham was my interest in ventures. Unfortunately. we do not have learning CW for the Hg." the resources of a Kenwood or Yaesu. Jim runs ‘Hg' web pages and an e— and simply cannot afford to support an mail list. Anyone can get on this list by unprofitable product line indefinitely. contacting him at: 123 Briar St, Prescott. Kachina Communications. Inc. AZ 86305-5036. USA. e-mail: will remain in business in Arizona. as we kd7aoi @ 21111.net. Tel: +1-520-445—4245. have done for the past 25 years. In future Web pages are at http:// we willconcentrate on our Swift Wireless homestead.juno.com/kd7aoi/ line of broadband wireless Internet heliograph.html products and services... We will continue to provide service and spares for all Kachina HF radio products for the Kachina 505DSP foreseeable future, and will honor all Discontinued factory warranties through the duration of the warranty period. The amateur radio products will be made Effective 24th May. 2001, Kachina remaining in our inventory Communications. Inc. will discontinue availablethroughour web site at clearance for production of all HF radio products. prices. so ifyou are looking a bargain. including the 505DSP and its related check there (http//kachina-az.com) May 25th. accessories. As you may know. many of beginning 2 MM76 — Jufy/flllgust 2001 I would like to thank all ofthose who are now restricted to frequencies who purchased the 505DSP over the last above 30 MHz will be able to use the HF several years. I am sorry that we could bands. not continue to manufacture the 505DSP, In addition, a large influx of new but we will do our best to continue to licensees will enter the amateur service provide service to you in the future... once the Morse code is no longer required Thanks and best regards, for HF operation. These effects could Cameron Earnshaw , Vice President. easily double the occupancy of the 7- Kachina Communications, Inc. MHz band by 2005. Crowding in the (Extract from a message posted on the amateur service allocation will become Kaehina reflectorat\t’li’li’.gl/l.ll€[0]lMay even more severe as the variety of 16, 2001. There was a review of the emission modes continues to expand... Kaehina 505DSP in MM68, p.9 ) This will causean immediateand dramatic increase in band occupancy. To maintain communications in Vote for MM the face of increased interference, amateurs will be required to increase transmitter levelsandantennagain. Internet users — next time you visit the power will be MM web site please vote for MM using Those who are unable to do so the 'DXZone' box. unable to communicate. . .. Amateurs who find the 7—MHz bandtoocrowdedwillbe forcedto operate in the next lower amateur band at 3.5 Implications if Morse Test MHz... Communication often is not is WRC2003 possible at the lower frequency owing to Dropped at reduced signal—to—noise ratios. Even if Immediate Large Influx of HF communication is possible at 3.5 MHz Stations Forecast over the paths for which 7 MHz is the optimum frequency, significantly higher Several administrations are planning to transmitter power is required — which propose at WRC-2003 the deletion ofthe consumes batteries and generator fuel at existing international regulatory a faster rate. requirement that amateur operators must demonstrate Morse code proficiency (Extract from an Information Paper by before being licensed to operate below the International Amateur Radio Union 30 MHz. which describes the current attempt by It is anticipatedthatthis proposal the IARU to obtain an exclusive will be adopted. This will have an worldwide amateur service allocation of less than in 7— immediate and dramatic effect upon the no 300 kHz the vicinity of occupancy of the HF amateur bands, MHz. The full paper can be found on the including the 7-MHz band. Hundreds of internet at http://www.iaru.or0: ) thousands of presently licensed amateurs (Report: Tony Smith) W76 —,7u[y/flligu.st 2001 Third Revised Edition of need it..." The book will be made available in many forms in the days to The Art and Skill of Radio- come. The decision has been made to Telegraphy make the book easily downloadable so it can be read off-line. as well as printed. by the computer user. This obviates the need William G. Pierpont‘s “The Art and Skill for an HTML edition as was previously ofRadio-Telegraphy".new ThirdRevised available. A French translation is Edition, edited by Fred Adsit. NYZV. has available from the web site of Maurice just been released in Microsoft Word and Colombani-Gailleur. F6IIE at http:// AdobeAcrobatpdffomt via the download f6iie.free.fr/titre_web.htm site.httpzl/www.qsl.net/nc)bor/nOhff.htm. (FredAdsiI, NYZV.) This edition contains miscellaneous corrections to the previous version. and most significantly. adds a High—Speed Appendix. with fascinating interviews Titanic Wireless and stories of what can be done. and how to do it. This is truly the definitive book Commemorative Group on the subject of radio-telegraphy. Special Event As Bill pointsout in the document. “The art and skill of telegraphy is unique. Psychologists whohave seriously studied In association with the Godalming those who have developed this skill have Museum a Special Event Amateur Radio been fascinated and challenged to try to Station will operate in memory of Jack understand it. Isn‘t the very idea of being Phillips. Chief Wireless Operator of the able to communicate your thoughts to Titanic. His sacrifice saved so many lives another by means of intermittent tones and for the 90th Anniversary of the something intriguing in itself?" And. he Sinking of the Titanic the special event also says. “It is my hope that you. as the callsign GB90MGY will be active from reader. will find it both interesting and Saturday 13th to Monday 15th April 2002. useful. I make no claim that it is complete. (MGY was the callsign of the Titanic on perfect or final. or that it contains her maiden voyage) everything of possible value or interest. I The station will be located at the have had to leave out some interesting Wilfred Noyce Centre. Godalming. items.especially ofhistory. Perhapssome Sun‘ey. England. the home—town of Jack of these, plus anything you. as reader. Phillips and operate CW only on the may wish to contribute. could be added 3.5MH2 to 28MHZ amateur bands. in further editions. This book may be including WARC bands. freelyreproduced and published. butonly (Information: Brian Grist, GJGJX, Chair on a no-profit basis in order to make it as off/re TWCG widely available as possible to those who e-mail: briazz.grist@li/zeoneret) 4 W76 4114/4911th 2001 of threat of this new technology to their Porthcurno Museum international cable communications Submarine Telegraphy business. Eventually in 1929. the Eastern Telegraph Company found itself merged ‘ Radio Week withMarconi 5 wirelessnetwork,forming the company that is today known as Cable From Sunday 12th to Saturday 18th & Wireless. August, Porthcurno Museum of 4 1 Submarine Telegraphy will be holding a special ‘RADIOWEEK’to enablevisitors Cyfeillion Marconi to find out more about radio, its history and how it works. It is being organised to Annual Lecture mark the centenary of Marconi‘s first the Atlantic. radio signal across This Association “Cyfeillion Marconi”, A temporaryradio station,call sign friends of the old transmitting station will be in in the ‘GB2PK‘. operation known to Guglielmo Marconi as the where there will also be pavilion an ‘ Carnarvon Station will hold its third exhibition the of radio describing history Annual Public Lecture on Friday the 5th at Porthcurno and in the area. October 2001 at 7.30 pm. The venue will the week there will also be During be the community hall Y Ganolfan, in the kite Marconi used kites a flying day. to village of Waunfawr. North Wales quite raise his radio aerials early as high as nearto the site of the old station.Everyone in 1910 he the possible and achieved is welcome to attend. world record for wireless transmission a The talk will be given by Mr Hari of 3,500 miles from the steamship . Williams C.Eng, MIEE. entitled PrincipessaMafalda using a kite produced “Marconi and his Welsh Connections”. by Brookite Ltd. During ‘radio week' a Mr Williams is the author of the recent modem replica ofthis kite will be used to book Marconi and his Wireless Stations hoist a wireless aerial for live in Wales. transmissions. The association consisting of There will also be talks on radio, members of local community visitors will be able view the . and to radio- organisations. radio amateurs and the related in the itself, displays museum general public aims to provide a the reconstruction of including working permanent commemorative stone once the SS. Titanic radio room. space has been acquired at the station site Porthcurno‘s involvement with and to set up an exhibition locally in radio back to 1902 when the Eastern . goes cooperation with the heritage museum which j Telegraph Company. operated out run by Antur Waunfawr. Further details of Marconi‘3 Porthcurno,began spyingon are available from Dewi E. Roberts, activities the Lizard their on using own GWQABL, 23 Lon Hedydd, radio mast and hut at ‘wireless ‘ point'. Llanfairpwll, Ynys Mon, Wales LL61 They were concemed about the potential 5]Y.Te1: 01248 713647. W76 —]u@//flllgust 2001 f The First Ferdinand Braun Day by Sylvester Fécking, DH4PB Translated into English by Thomas Roth, DL1CQ

Force 10 gales and a storm warning. The looking forward to the next day. right kind of weather for the ex-ROs No particular duty-schedules were who were getting ready for the first established and each team could operate Ferdinand-Braun-Day at Cape Hoorn in and rotate theiroperators as they wished. Cuxhaven. Germany in order to Only the use of specific frequencies were commemorate the life and work of this scheduled. great physicist - inventor of the cathode— ray tube and one of the early pioneers of The Seebaederbruecke/Yachthafen radiotelegraphy. CW station On June 2nd and 3rd 2001. twenty Operators were former Radio radio barns had responded to an appeal Officers Sylvester/DH4PB. Rolf/ from Juergen Gerpott, DLSHCI DL9CM, Hans-Joerg/DL7DAN plus (DeutscherWetterdienst, Hamburg) to Eddi/DK3UZ and Rik/ON4CW. They commemorate the work of Professor were joined on Saturday by Thomas/ Ferdinand Braun who was Joint DLlCQ as guest operator. From this Nobel Prize Laureate with Guglielmo station Juergen/DLSHCI (initiator of the Marconi in 1909 for developments in event and himself a former RO) wireless telegraphy. Prof. Braun transmitted the words on l4MHz: “I conducted his telegraphy experiments at declare the first Ferdinand-Braun—Day Cuxhaven. open". Through good connections with the authorities and the tireless work of The Naval School CuxhavenSSB-QRP Juergen. DL8HCI and Uwe, DKIKQ. and VHF station four locations for special event hanr This station wasoperated by Ingo/ stations were obtained using a DKlRB. former Radio Officer and now commemorative callsign DLQPFB. with coastal radio station DP07, and his Different modes of operation were crew from Buxtehude: Dieter/DL4HO, demonstrated at each location. and copies Klaus/DLIHBL. Andreas/DFSFD and of Prof. Braun’s historic telegram were guestoperatorPeter/DLSBELfromStade. sold, the proceeds of which went to the Theywere running 10 wattsonshortwave Society for the upkeep of the Lightship and also took care of VHF FM repeater Elbe 1. connections. During the briefing on Friday night, Juergen. who is a brilliant orator. Activities at Fort Kugelbake motivated all present and everyone was Radio operators are the last to 6 W76 —ju[_y/fl1gu5t2001 location. Among t h e h i - t e c h equipment on the ships bridge, they set up their transceiver with a Heath SB-220 amplifier, running 300—400 watts into their antennas, which were easily erected on the ships masts. Theyworked 575 stations and all The Operators of DLDPFB, standing from left to right: Andreas Kohlhaas/DFSFD, QSLs will bear Walter Rauhut/DFQYG, Weber/DK1RB, Dieter Claus Lorenzen/ lngo Krannig/DL4HO, the ships stamp. DLtHBL, Helmut Stegemann (Elbei), Eddi Ramm/DK3UZ, Uwe Wensauer/DKiKQ, Klaus Kuhnt/DF3GU, Dr. Martin Rohde SWL. Sitting from left to right: Rolf Marschner/ DLQCM,ThomasSchmitt/DHSPW,SylvesterFécking/DH4PB,Juergen Gerpott/DLBHCI. Special QSL card Not on the photo: Hans-Jflrgen Bartels/DLtYFF, Burkhard Berenbrig/DFSXC, Erik Every contact with Verbeeck/ON4CW, Thomas Roth/DL1CQ, Hans-Jorg Pust/DL7DAN. DLQPFB will be leave the ship. That’s the impression verified with a special QSL card, you got in the old fort that has defended sponsored by Eddi/DK3UZ. On Sunday Cuxhaven from many attacks. Klaus/ evening Juergen/DLSHCI once again DF3GU and Thomas/DHSPW had set up operated the CW station and declared the a modern station. It was here that Klaus Ferdinand-Braun-Day closed. gave regular 20 minute slide-shows and talks on the life and work of Prof. Braun Finale after which he transmitted SSTVpictures Later on Sunday night, after a wet and to the world. Thomas demonstrated PSK stomiy weekend full of radio activity, QSOs to the more technologically the operators and accompanying XYLs inclined visitors whilst Juergen/DL8HCI met in the posh Steubenhoeft Restaurant in his smart RO‘s uniform, with SWL (the Ellies Island ofCuxhaven). Juergen/ Martin,demonstratedhistoricaltelegraph DLSHCI echoed everyone‘s opinion that equipment which was borrowed from a it had been a very successful event and Cuxhaven school. everyone enthusiastically drank a toast to that, and also to Sylvester/DH4PB's 60th Komet - Scientific Survey Ship SSB birthday. Considering the fun that was Station had by all and the many friends that came Theoperators on boardthe Komet, together to make the event possible, it Burkhard/DFSXC. Hans-Juergen/ seems very likely that planning for a DLlYFF and Walter/DF9YG from second Ferdinand-Braun-Day will Bielefeld, certainly had the fanciest commence soon. MM MM76 — Jugg/flhéqust 2001 7 Telegraph Keys At The 2001 Dayton Hamfest

by Tom Perera - W1 TP

he Dayton Hamfest is the largest tents but the keys and all of the people and best attended hamfest in the who helped keep the tents on the ground T world. It is always exciting and survived. On Friday. the security people has gradually evolved into not only a came running through the parking lot to hunt for but THIS [S H! NOT l!! A productive place keys. ‘ yelling

‘ also a social gathering place for key THUNDERSTORMTHAT IS COMING collectors. Dayton, however, is right in !! IT IS A ‘RED-CELL‘ WE ADVISE ‘Tornado Alley‘ and the ferocity of the EVERYONE TO GET INSIDE THE storms that pass through is impressive. I MAIN BUILDING...NOW !! Lightning arrived in the rain at 9 am on Thursday to began striking the light poles and it was begin setting up my tents and found a pretty scarey standing under the metal large group ofcollectors already scouring tent frame holding the tent down and the flea market in search of goodies. 'hopefully' waiting for the storm to pass... l It became obvious that we were in Young Rob Tiller was the first to for a very serious thunderstorm and the find a major key. It bore a superficial leading—edge roll cloud hit with resemblance to a Vibroplex but carried a unbelievable gusts of wind. The entire nameplatethat listedShanghai as its place 40-foot tent system moved W1TP about lO—feet d o w n w i n d Perera, breaking ropes Torn and dragging my trailer after it. Photo: Dozens of tents could be seen flying through the air and the sounds of breaking glass filled the air. The tops were torn off two of my three The Shanghai bug key. 8 M76 —Ju[y/12llgu5t2001 of origin. Rob brought it over to show to to Gil Schlehman, the number may be as the collectors gathered around my tables few as 4-6. A rare Peerless bug and an and was roundly congratulated for his unusual Spark Key with a captive round rare and unusual find. He and his brother ball contact also changed hands during Matt spend a great deal of time reading the afternoon but most collectors were about the history ofthe

various keys and W1TP developing their own collections in friendly Perera, competition with their father, long-time Tom collector Bob Tiller. Photo: On Friday, Rob and Bob found a nice Mac- Key and. as often happens, when they asked if the seller had any other keys, out came a Vibroplex Model-X which was missing a few relatively minor Although rare, this second Peerless bug key turned up. parts... Collector Doug Palmer showed disappointed that only a few common up with a magnificent and extremely keys were showing up due to the rain that early Caton-lever key... The lever was kept most (tentless) sellers from putting absolutely fantastic and clearly showed out items for sale. the name of the maker...but, Tony Rogozinski found a number unfortunately, the rest of the key must of interesting keys including an Eastern have been lost somewhere because the Precision Spark key. He also brought beautiful lever wasmounted in a standard along a tiny working Triumph-style brass oval Triumph style base.. Nevertheless, key which was no larger than a thumbnail it was certainly one of the best early for show-and-tell... A French Vibro—mors landline finds of the show. bug quickly found a new owner. These David Vest, K8DV, the owner of bugs are not super-rare in Europe but it is the wonderful Vibroplex Midget (12KB) unusual to see them in America. which he showed me last year, and which Many hundreds of friends and had appeared on Ebay recently, stopped collectors stopped by to say hello and to by. Within a few hours, it had found a show off their finds. A surprising number new home as did his super—cleanCodetrol of people are building their own keys and bug . Unfortunately, there don't seem to using very unusual design strategies and be many of them around and, according they came by to show off their latest 91491476 —_7u{y/fllzgust 2001 .9 models. Richard Meiss, WB9LPU the Enigma demonstrations. certainly took the prize for having the A super-nice Signal Electric Co. most original and functional bug designs, Leg Key and original box showed up and using magnetic repulsion which have an was immediately purchased by collector unbelievably light touch. This and his Joyce Medlen, N7UG, who is building a other paddles can be seen in his personal very fine collection of military keys and ( pages on my website www.w ltp.com). . wanted a representative landline key for Throughout the day on Friday, her shelves. Joyce also found a J-6 WWI Saturday, and Sunday, I was showing Aircraft key. a nice old Blue Racer, a German and Swiss Enigma Cipher French Military Key, a British Aircraft machines and a collector who is an expert light signalling key. and several other on the history of these machines and the goodies to add to her collection. history of the codebreaking process was Sunday is usually a slow day so I giving hourly lectures and hands—on was able to go out key hunting. The first demonstrations. Only at Dayton could key I found was a lovely Dinger Bug you hope to find Enigma machines. which the seller told me had come from Norden bombsights. and historic an antique shop less than 30—miles from telegraph keys on display. I think that it is Dayton. It had obviously been stored in a this amazing variety of toys that keeps wet basement but the rust under the base was superficial and it worked fine. The

W1TP \ Dinger was made by the D & K Perera. Manufacturing in Tom Company Cleveland and Photo: canies a patentdate of 1906. This one also carries a ‘Patent Applied For. stamp on the frame. Although the Dinger is not c o n s i d e r e d it i extremely rare, was the first one of machine. Hourly demonstrations an Enigma that I had ever found and I really people coming back year after year and like the action and the mechanism. It is braving the infamous “Dayton weather". fun to watch that silly weight bouncing At one time a crowd of about 50 people i back and forth on the string and the feel stood in a teeming downpour listening to is surprisingly light and precise. I think it 10 W76 —,‘7u[y/fllzgu5t 2001 W1TP for 4-days and nobody had Perera, bought it. I have since received Tom emails fromPete

Photo: Malvasi and Doug Palmer informing me that it is a C a n a d i a n Marconi Spark Key.) The Dinger bug key. Finding that will be one of my favorites on the nice spark key made the 10-hour drive operating table. back home in... yes... you guessed it... As I was walking around and Thunderstorms and heavy rain almost looking at the various dealers' tables in bearable and I am certainly looking the Main Building I noticed a dirty old forward to next year. It's really fun to be thing sitting next to a beat—up Heath VFO, there after all of the serious collectors a pile of wire, and some other stuff. When have given up and gone home... I got closer, my heart started going into serious palpitations because I could see (Edited and abridgedfor MMfrom the that it was a very large and very old spark original report on Tom Perera ’3 web site key. 30,000 hams had passed this item at www.w1 tp.com ) MM

W1TP

Perera,

Tom

Photo:

A rare find - Canadian Marconi spark key. W76 —]u[_y/flltgu5t2001 J] The Original W9TO Keyer 0 MY GREAT DELIGHT. Peter. ZL4GU. responded to my plea for Comments from a the schematic ofthe original W9TO vacuum tube keyer I made in my last Practice Session column (see MM73 - Ed. ). Peter had. and sent me. a faded but legible hand-drawn and copy of the circuit. saying “I have had this circuit for about 35 years. I built it up Negative Polarity in 1966 when I was VK3OP and used it as my station keyer for about 15 years. when Keying I built the Curtis keyer. At the moment I am using another recommendation of by Dr Gary Bold ZL1AN yours. the CMOS SuperKeyer II." "The W9TO keyer worked well. and the ability to change the weighting was an advantage (as it is in the the first time. a divide-by-two circuit was SuperKeyer.) It really needs high quality used to form a dash from three dots. thus capacitors to make the timing consistent. the “ratio" and towards the end of its life the timing eliminating adjustment with previous keyers. and was variable. to say the least." necessary guaranteeing that the clot/dash ratio was I now know that this circuit was always correct. irrespective of speed. never formally published at the time. In fact I can't find mention ofits publication Logic of the Original VV9TO keyer anywhere.Jim. W9TO.just passedaround It used four dual—triodes. copies of his hand-drawn schematic to as 5963. but I know that those who asked for it. I suspect that designated type other tubes such as the 12AU7A were Peter's copy is one of these. It appears also used. The missing half-tube in the now in print probably for the first time. schematic is used for a simple relaxation An historic occasion! audio oscillator using a neon tube. LatervariantsOfJim‘ s circuitshow VV9TO Circuit Operation three logic while this circuit has I re—drew the logic part of the stages. only two. This is because Jim used a cross circuit from Peter‘s faded copy. This is coupled multivibratorhaving a nominally shown in figure 1. I‘ve omitted the power 1:1 mark/space ratio as a combined clock supply and audio monitor. which were and dot - this is formed by the fairly standard for the time. The logic generator two tubes at left. But later transistor here. however. was completely new. For upper 12 W76 —july/;?tugu5t 2001 Keying relay

Keying Ba once tube

Figure 1 - W9TO keyer circuit and logic—chip versions used a pulse connection to the keying stage. Again, generator as the clock, which required the dot generator is held on until this. and another stage to convert the short clock the following dot—space, is complete. pulses to square dot pulses. The dot Speed is varied by the top left- generator is enabled by the lower tube at handpot, whichchangesthe time-constant left, which tums hard on when either the of the dot generator. The “space" dot or dash contacts are closed - the dash potentiometer enables the time-constants turn-on initiated via the diode. an idea I of each tube in the dot generator to be also used in the Zeekey. I surmise that the varied differentially, changing the mark/ neon tube between the anodes (labelled space ratio of the square wave generated, “‘Ne“) breaks down at a pre—determined and hence the weighting. The “balance” voltage (like a zener diode operating for potentiometer at centre bottom adjusts both polarities) to square up the the symmetry of the second flip-flop. waveform. Probably this would be set up initially If the dot paddle is closed, the and need only periodic adjustment. square wave from the multivibrator Thanks to Peter, from all of us, for enables the keying tube at far right. and passingon this historicalcircuit.It marked the clock is held on by a feedback path a major step in the evolution of keyers! until its cycle is complete. Contacts of the keying relay in the anode circuit key Commentsfrom a Practice Session the transmitter. LastAugust,Ron ZL 1 AJPdecided If the dash paddle is closed, the to run an on-air session for learners. on right-hand tube pair is also enabled by the local 720 repeater. at 9 pm every the bottom right triode. These form a bi- week-night. He emailed me for advice. stable flip-flop, which “fills in the space” Years ago, Richard ZLlBOK and I between two dots to form a 3-element surmised that listening to much faster length dash, using a “wired OR” morse than you can comfortably copy WEI/[76 —ju{y/fllugu5t 2001 13 helped to rev up the brain. Hence. we or even notches in their frequency started our practice session by sending at response - hence (in the NZART Morse 25 wpm. dropping back down to 12 and test). the candidate can select the then 6. This did help some people. who frequency for the formal test. said that "after that. 12 wpm sounded Later.aftera couplemore sessions. quite pedestrian". even though they Ron said: couldn‘t copy it all. I asked Ron to try “The general consensus was that this. the higher speed start didn‘t seem to do Afterthe first session.Ronemailed anything for them. They did however see me: the old “Quick brown fox" session with “The blokes seem to like the fast numbers 1 ~ 0 after. as good and the CW to start. I havebeen starting at 30wpm suggestion was made to run it at three and creeping it down. then pausing and different speeds at the startofthe session. sending the old “QUICK BROWN “Tonight I tried that, running it at FOX ...... " and the numbers 1 - 0 6. 9. and 12wpm. then running the text immediately afterwards. That seems to and number sessions starting at 6wpm. be quite popular. They know what is again using a Farnsworth speed of 15. coming and I am getting them to write it The comments afterwards were very down as it comes (not before it comes!) positive. so I guess we carry on with that “I am then sending about three method. lines of text. I had a complaint that it was “Even in three weeks there are hard to tell when a comma was put in. so definite signs of progress. One chap I am sending a space between both sides starting off from absolute scratch (and I of a comma for a while until it is had a job getting him to have a go). has recognised. I also pause at the end ofthe kept each night's results. and is amazed text. and send two V's to get them ready at what he is getting now! He is even for 5 sets of five numbers. picking up odd small words at lprm. “I then read that lot back before His numbers havegone fromnotknowing going on. I am starting at 6wpm and them at all to getting about 80% at 6wpm running up to only 8wpm mostly at and 30% or so at 8 wpm and about 20% present.but will probably include lprm at 10 wpm. He is even talking about from next week. I am using a Farnsworth getting a CW filter for his TS-501 speed of 15. I did have one chap mention "One other bloke who has been he thought the tone at 750112 was a bit using your program and was struggling low. so last night I raised it to 800112 - then at 6wpm when we started is getting 100% tonight at the club got the complaint it text at 6wpm now. about 90% of the was too high for one of the blokes...you 8wpm and nearly the same at Iprm." can’t win!" Ah. well. looks like the “high- People do get used to copying at speed start" isn‘t as helpful as I'd hoped. one frequency. although the need to do However. it is very useful to get such this fades with proficiency. Others may feedback. and I re—print it hoping that have diminished high-frequency hearing Ron's comments will help others. 14 MM76 —]u@/J7lugu5t 2001 Negative Polarity Keying and the quiescent negative voltage keyed Several people have recently was used to bias the driver or output asked me how to convert modern positive stages Ofi‘on key-up. logic electronic keyers for driving older These two systems require tube rigs with negative logic keying. different keyer output stages. Figure 2(a) Explanation: Solid—state output stages are ‘ shows a simple single pnp transistor add— invariably keyed by pulling a logic-level 1 on to the output stage of an existing keying line sitting at 3 - 5 volts down to keyer, which will almost certainly be a

1 ground. single npn common-emitter transistor Tube-rigs were usually keyed by which pulls the output low on key—down. pulling a line sitting at -40 to —60 volts up On key—up, the 10k resistor cuts the to ground. This was because tube ligs additional pnp transistor off. On key- normally employed grid-block keying, down. the keyer tums this transistor on.

Existing keyer +5V output stage ——————————— 10KB {- npn -: I WP 10m , i I 1kfl Negative { I keying I I line I I

I I

I I L ______.l (a)

+ SFH601 ___ optocoupler 4.5V "“““" 5 T +ve +ve T Keyer output i _ve 4 "'V5 I._____.I 4 (b)

Fig.2a ) and Fig. 2b ) Negative polarity keyers W76 —,‘7u[y/flugust 2001 15 pulling the keying line up. The diode keying. It does not matter whether the prevents the keying line from rising more keyer itself is grounded or not. and the than one diode drop above ground. in optocoupler gives additional protection case the transmitter does not like this. from If feeding back into the keyer. or computer. if you‘re using one (I use a The maximum permissible similar circuit for computer keying). collector—emitter voltage of the pnp My original version used only a transistor should be greater than the single 1.5 volt cell. This worked fine for keying line's quiescent negative voltage. me. but apparently didn't have enough which you canmeasurewith a multimeter. oomph to key some transmitters. This A number of transistors are suitable. Both version drives about 10 mA through the keyer and add-on circuit must have the optical diode and shouldbe morereliable. sameground as the transmitter. and you'll This diive current can be changed by have to get 5 volts from somewhere. Try varying the value of the 39 ohm resistor. using the keyer‘s voltage rail. The most bomb-proof method of all is simply to key a common-emitter Optocoupler transistor stage driving a small relay. Figure 2(b) is a modification ofa which can then key anything. I have circuit I originally published in the foundthatreedrelayseasilyfollowkeying September 1994 “Morseman” column. up to 35 wpm. However relays are more The SFH60l optocoupler has a higher power hungry. and the clicking annoys collector—emitter breakdown voltagethan some people. more common types. Everything is Thereare evencircuitswhichwork battery—powered (three penlight cells for either positive or negative keying work fine) and the output terminals are automatically. but these will have to wait isolated from ground. so work with either for another day. positive or negative keying. (Adapted and edited)?»MMfrom ij‘ For negative keying. connect the Bo/d's The Morse/72ml column in Break- positive output of the optocoupler (pin 5) Irz,jozrrna/ofNZART, September/October to ground and vice-versa for positive 2000. ) MM

The Radio Ofiicers Association

had Membership is open primarily to former MN radio officers but is also open to anyone who has an association with maritime communications or is interested in the subject, Members receive the quarterly newsletter 080 and its associatedamateurcomponent QRZ. There is an annual reunion and AGM. 2001 sees the meeting taking place in Bristol. For further details and information please contact the Membership Secretary - John Russell, 21 Landcross Drive, Northampton, NN3 3LR.

16 W76 —ju[y/flligu5t 2001 The G3GJX Automatic Keyer N MM 74 THERE WAS A REPORT on the centenary celebrations and the reopening ofthe Lizard Wireless by David Barlow, G3PLE Station. The station, in addition to the 1901 display, has a separate radio room fromwhich licensedamateurscanoperate by arrangement. either using their own call sign /P or the permanent call sign “cl—bug" circuit, using valves, which was GBZLD. highly successful until superseded many For the duration of the centenary 1 years later by transistorised designs using celebrations the equipment was kindly ‘ discrete components and followed by loaned to the station by Kenwood, i integrated circuits used in various ways.” however more permanent equipment was The very early keyers had one needed. Richard Walker G6QI came to very severe disadvantage — they would the and donated a Uniden 2020 rescue : “eat“ batteries and one either had to use a transceiver. It is a 30 year old valve set mains power pack (bulky and expensive and is in perfect working order, tried and 3 in those days) or save batteries by tested, CW contacts having been made switching off between transmissions! world wide. The only problem was that The G3GJX key had four main some people like to use a paddle key and advantages:- The stand—by current is less the keying line carries —35v which would than luA and ‘key down‘ consumption damage a modem keyer's circuitry, so of less than IOmA. It was easy to build the keyer has to be isolated from the ( even though you had to etch your own transceiver using a high speed relay. circuit board). The cost ofthe four ICs in Richard came up with the answer. thosedayswas lessthan£l and, excluding He delved into his “discard” drawer and the case and paddle components, the total came out with a keyer he had built himself cost was less than £5. which was 25 years old and had never Richarddecidedto buildthe keyer, been used in anger. Richard has always he assembled the components, etched the enjoyed “building things" and read an board and mounted them using a box article in September 1974 ‘Radio supplied by RS Components. He Communication', written by E B Grist, persuaded his goodfriend Ken McCardle, G3GJX entitled “ A Founh Generation G4CRI to make the metalwork. Those CW Keyer Using CMOS le”. who know Richard will not be surprised To quote from the article: “The to know that he put one or two of his own author“ 3 experienceofbuildingautomatic modifications into the circuitry. All this keyers goes back to the original OZ7BO was not easy as the circuit diagram and W76 — Jufy/flléqust2001 17 Top view of the GSGJX Keyer. the list of components did not conform in poor health was galvanisedinto action, one to the other. he found the keyer. It was in its case but This home made keyer was had not been fully mounted, in fact it had relegated to the ‘bits‘ box for the next 25 been floating aboutin the case and he was He yearsuntilhe wastoldthatarelay operated surprised it had not been damaged. mounted the board, got out a soldering iron and completedthe job. He inserted a c r y s t a l microphone as a side tone monitor, put a knob on the speed adjustment spindle, tested it and it worked. A final problemremained — there was only one paddle for a double paddle View of the GsGJX Keyer from the paddles. keying unit! It seems that Ken keyer was required for the Uniden 2020 had gOt the type a bit wrong as the i transceiver at the Lizard that he had also perfectly made paddle would not work.

‘ the so kindly donated. Richard at age 92 and Mike Soars G4TCI was to come to 18 W76 —]u[y/fllgu5t 2001 has received. Some years ago Arthur Freeman G4TKX wished to learn the Morse code and happened to go into Morse House, Penywem Road, Earl’s Coun, and was told that the London Telegraph Training College (as it was called in 1938) was closing down. Arthur was offered a choice of keys for £5 each. He selected one that had been well used but appears to be circa 1930, probably a Post Office single current key since it is stamped with the usual “Patt. 1036A” Replica of the Marconi key used at the on the front and the key arm has “WE Lizard station. 8208” in the casting. rescue and made two new paddles using As a postscript, MM readers may the original as a template. like to know that the Marconi Company The key was tested on air and donated a handbuiltreplicaearly Marconi worked perfectly. Operators used to key to the station at the Lizard when it modern automatic keyers have to be a was re-opened in January. There are only little more positive as the relay does not 20 ofthese keys in existence and they are react as fast as modern chips. But using not available on the open market. the keyer is a pleasure. The result of all this is that the References: Lizard Wireless Station now has a fully l. "The G3IAS transistorised electronic keyer" working amateur radio station complete by G F Gearing. RSGB Bulletin. Dec. 1964. with W3DZZ aerial, with mast adjacent Ix) “A New Keyer Using Digital ICs” by John to the old Marconi base, and a keyer built Crawley. Radio Communications. Aug. 1969. 3. "Microcircuit electronic by Marvin Jahn. a quarter of a century ago. The true spirit 3 key" of the early radio pioneers is reflected in QST September 1969. the amateur equipment being used today. 4. “The ‘yet another' keyer" by R G Wheathead. The Lizard Wireless Station has Radio Communication May 1973. been very fortunate in the donations it i MM

FISTS CW Club— The International Morse Preservation Society FISTS exists to promote amateur CW activity. It welcomes members with all “ C levels of Morse proficiency,and especially newcomers to the key. w The club has awards, nets (including a beginners’ net), dial—a-sked for ‘ i beginners, straight key activities,QSL bureau, newsletter, and discounts from traders. Further information can be obtained from Geo. Longden (53208, 119 Cemetery Road, Darwen, Lancs BB3 2L2. Send an s.a.e. or two IRCS.

{Mill/[76 —]ul_i7//flltgust 2001 1.9 From 'Knock and Slap' to Telex HAVE READ OVER TIME the various methods of learning Morse code and this one is perhaps the most by Ron McMuIIen unique of all. At 9 years of age my father was sent to South BrokenHill. NewSouth Wales as Postmaster. South Broken Hill is a suburb of Broken Hill. which at that time (1940) was a large Lead and Zinc mining town. The official residence was attached to the Post Office and I could table and write down as much as I constantly hear the click clack of Morse could. Before long I was sending ‘live’ and soon became intrigued by it. My messages to FX and then in quiet sister and I had adjoining bedrooms with periods the FX operators would ‘ go slow‘ an intervening brick wall and we soon so that I could catch as much as I agreed that a dot should be a ‘knock‘ on could with my father seated at his desk the wall and a dash should be a ‘slap‘ on also taking it all down to make sure the wall. We soonbecamequite proficient of things. with knock and slap. transmitting I was so intrigued by Post Office messages to each other through the workings that I was allowed to wall. The hallway of the residence had a deliver telegramsafter school.Clear street door leading into the Post Office and letter receivers. date stamp and sort mail. I would sit on the floor with pencil and serve the occasional customer and even paper and try to work out the dots and lide my bicyclethroughold disusedmines dashes. to bring the mail from Broken Hill to South Broken Hill (call sign JO) South Broken Hill during school worked Morse with Broken Hill (call holidays. etc. sign FX) and of course these were Before leaving school I passed the frequently heard letters. I asked my father Post Office entrance exam and what they meant and with a wondering went straight into the Post Office as a look he told me. It wasn't long before I Telegraph Messenger. I quickly was ‘sprung‘ by my father for sitting at qualified in the various Morse exams the door and listening and he soon becoming qualified to work lines and produced a practice set comprising key. was sent out at the tender age of 16 to sounder and battery. With a bit of expert country Post Offices on relief duties. I tuition from him I soon got through the had also learnt Telephone switchboard door to the office and would sit at a side operating which led to all night long 20 W76 —]u€y/fllugu5t2001 telephone operating in various writing on the wall for Morse code and exchanges. returned to the Postal side of the PMG I then decided to concentrate on Department. Howeverthe telegraph ‘bug‘ the Telegraph side of the Post Office soon bit me again and I returned to the and entered the Telegraphist—in—Training Telegraphist Training School as an School in 1950. being only required Instructor to pass on my knowledge to qualify in machine-telegraphy as I was to other aspiring Telegraphists. already qualified in Morse. On The ‘knock‘ and ‘slap‘ therefore completion of the School I worked as a led me through a complete, although Telegraphist in the Chief Telegraph rather short Telegraph career, along the Office. Sydneyand manyregionaloffices way working all types of Morse circuits on relief duties. Within two years I had — simplex. duplex. and open circuit order passed the Telegraphists Barrier wires. Murray multiplex,Teleprinters. Examination, which meant I could Teletypes. Telex, Tress, Picturegram and progress to a higher salary level and private newspaper circuits, plus horse qualified as a Telegraph Supervisor. I racing meetings, cricket matches etc. was a Supervisor in both Sydney and when results of these activities were NSW provincial centres until I saw the always transmitted by Morse or printer.

Morse by Internet Report by Tony Smith, G4FAI

hanks to MorseMail. a free simple and stand-alone. There is no fancy programwritten by HarryAB7TB. installation required. Just download it as it is now possible to send and a .zip or .exe file from http:// www.seanet.com/~harIyDV/IVIorseMail/ receive recordedmessagesby Morseover , the Internet. They can be sent by e-mail put it in some handy directory, make a between stationsusing the sameprogram. shortcut and you are ready to go. or via a repeater through which stations MorseMail requires a Windows 95. may work each other almost 98, 2000. or XP machine and a 16-bit instantaneously in “transceive” mode. sound card to operate properly. But it The authorsays “I've been practising takes up only a quarter megabyte of disk the Morse code art for close to 40 years space and runs with modest CPU and now. It has given me so much pleasure RAM resources." I‘m hoping to find a way to foster its use The mouse buttons can be used in this new “digital age‘ so the art can be for keying Morse. as a straight key or as preserved through future generations. an iambic keyer and. during playback. "The MorseMail program is speed. tone frequency, and background W76 —]u(y/flrgust 2001 21 noise can be adjusted as required. You operating instructions and a copy of can even reverse the keying buttons if MorseMail. can be obtained from Mpg desired. For most people. a proper key /www.seanet.com/~ha1‘1"VDv/MorseMail/ will be preferable to using the mouse, so If any readers decide to try this details are provided on how to wire a new style of Morse communication, mouse to enable an external key to be which makes possible fully readable used. If a jack socket is used. the mouse QRM/QSB free QSOs with any pan of can be used for its normal function when the world at any time. MM will welcome MorseMail is not in use, and the key can their reactions and comments. We will be be plugged in when required. happy to pass such comments on to l-Ian‘y says; “In a future version, I AB7TB if they wish. MM plan to add the ability to feed an audio source (like a code practice oscillator or ham radio 1ig) into the sound board and it SILENT KEYS will envelope detect the tones and record It is with regret to have to report the mark/space times. You will even be the passing on of the following MM able to record well filtered CW from a receiver and then send it as an email in the readers: compact MorseMail timing format. Douglas Coe G4PZQ “My dream all along was to Ian Mant G4WWX provide a ‘new ham band‘ facility where John Ward we could use the Internet for Morse code QSOs. MorseMail using e-mail was a paitial step in that direction and still a good option when synchronicity is not possible. Radio “TheMorseMailrepeaterfunction operates through a specialized form of a Bygones HTTP server. I operate one at the vintage wireless magazine “brasspoundercom” but the program, Annual subscription (6 issues): MorseSen’e, is available for download UK - £18.50; Europe - £19.50; Rest of the World £23.75. and can easily be set up by anyone with a Or send £3.25 for a sample fixed I? address. copy public For further details, contact “This is just a beginning for the Wimborne Publishing Limited transceiver feature. Being a ham radio Radio Bygones, Allen House project. it will take a while for this to East Borough, Wimborne evolve into something more polished. Dorset BH21 1PF, England However, please send feedback any you Phone: +44 (0) 1202 881749 can to [email protected] to help me Fax: +44 (0) 01202 841692 improve it as I have time. I'm looking E-mail: [email protected]

. forward to some MorseMail QSOs!” www.radlobygones.com FVISA l More information. including .—_ 22 W76 —ju[y/flllgu5t 2001 The CW Centre UK Price List R A Kent Keys and accessories Swedish Pump Key

. Hand key, kit £47.80 Pettersson DK1000 £89.95 Hand key, assembled 62.50 . KTI Professional key 72.50 Loy'key. keyers L°g'key K3 £129.95 Twin paddle, kit 62.50 key?” . Superkeyer 3, klt 59.95 TWln paddle, assembled 76.50 kit Single paddle, 53.50 Samson keyers assembled 65.50 Single paddle, ETMQC x3Y With paddles £139.95 The Dual Key 99.90 ETMQCOG x3, no paddles 109.95 Morse trainer 49.95 ETM SQ Twin paddles 39.95 Practice oscillator 19.50 Practice oscillator kit 7.95 Schurr keys and paddles EK4 keyer 47. 50 “Profi” twin paddle £129.95 119.95 EK4/ M memory keyer 73.50 “P9998"W9 paddle mechanism, no base 74.95 EK4 memory upgrade kit 29.50 Twin 79.95 Touch twin keyer kit 27.90 ggrcldirelyE/Trr‘llallligesfiy

‘ base 139.95 Electronic keyer kit 15.00 DK1 WE Bencher and keys paddles “Minky” miniature pump £79.95 . BY1 Twin, black base £79.95 “‘Twinky” miniature twin 94.95 BY2 Twin, chrome base 89.95 8T1 Single, black base 79.95 MFJ 8T2 Single, chrome base 94.95 MFJ418 Morse trainer £58.95 RJ i Pump, black base 69.95 Soft case tor 418 8.50 RJ2 Pump, chrome base 74.95 Spares stocked, Repairs undertaken. Please ‘phonefor details Postage & Packing extra. Payment welcome in cash. cheque [UK 53), Visa or Mastercard G3TUX —_VISA The QRP Component Company PO Box 88 Haslemere GU27 2RF, England Tel: +44 (0)1428 661501 Fax: +44 (0) 1428 661794 e-majl: [email protected] web site: www.g3tux.com MM76 —]u[y/fllzgu5t 2001 Z; Shaucase

Readers are invited to contribute any additional intormationand stories, no matter how minor, to the Editor, Morsum Magnificat. There have been thousands of designs of keys & telegraphy instuments. Information will be lost unless it is compiled in one place and shared with other readers.

G3LNG

Robbins,

George

Photo/Collection:

A beautiful example of the McEIroy 8600 Super Stream Key

=?

G4YMB

A fine example of a Brass, 1930's Gamages’ re inseam: training set with key and Malcolm buzzer in a mahogany case. These were used by a number of organisations including Photo/Collection: the Scouts. The batteries were in the base and the unit was used for point- to-point training.

24 W76 — Jufy/flzgust2001 WA3LKN

Penne,

Dave

Photo/Collection:

The Pennsylvania Railroad (PHR) was the onlyrailroad that made its own telegraph equipment. The PFiR manufactured the equipment in their Altoona, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility (“Altoona Shop”). It's known that the PRH made sounders, relays, K083 and came/back keys but since they didn't sell the items to others, there are no cataloguesavailable, and relatively little is knownaboutAltoona equipment. The came/back keys are identical in every regard to Tillotsonkeys andeitherare verygoodcopies or else they bought those from Tillotsonandput their own marks on them. PHR Altoona Shops equipment is exceedingly high quality, and displays a high degree of workmanship and careful design. This K08 is was once lacquered brass, now largely gone, and has a design that facilitates removal of the coils by simply unscrewing two screws on the underside for servicing, unlike other KOBs that were much more difficult to service. Notice the detailed routed edge of the wooden board. For a strictly working class commercial instrument, a great deal of pride went into the manufacture of this item. (MM-42 had on its cover a key attributed to Altoona but it is now known that is a Western Electric item from a Box-relay KOB.) — Dave Pennes, WA3LKN.

W76 —]u€y/fllgust2001

air when I left Wilkes in January 1964. Antarctica’s Smallest Field f Doug Twigg continues the story: Transmitter? The facility was an immediate success Steve Grimsley. creator of Radio i and became popular with all parties. It KOLD. designed and madeanother mini— soon became recognised that it could be transmitter which he used at Wilkes usedfor more than an entertainment on- i during 1961 and 1963. Concerned about the—job service, but also as a pager to the heavy, one hundred pounds in weight, locate individuals when required. This ANGRC-9 (“Angry-9") transceiver used i was years before VHF hand-held radios for one-day sledge joumeys, he spoke to came to ANARE. Later, the equipment the radio officers who that i agreed a was moved into the Met/Radio building receiver was not really necessaly in the wherea moreelaborate ‘studio’ was set up. Gillies This location J. had more manpower available over long Photo: hours by shift workers, to attend to the ever hungry turntables and tape machines. It wasn't long before other ANARE stations heard about Radio KOLD andbegan their own broadcast stations. Mawson built Radio BLIZ and Davis built Radio ICY. Radio KOLDwasmovedfrom Wilkes to Caseyin 1969 and has had several upgrades since. All these stationsoperate to this day, although they havemigrated to the FMband. It is now customary for the duty ‘slushy’ to the provide musicfor ANGRC-Q (“Angry-9”) fie/d transceiver. US made, of Korean the time war they are vintage. With about 15 watts output, CW and voice, covering 2- 12 in working the kitchen MHz, these units were the main portable sets used by ANARE and mess. throughout the 1960’s, for both dog and mechanisedtravel. W76 —]u@/}legust 2001 27 field inthese circumstances.All he needed speed in Morse code. Steve said each was a reliable low power. crystal time he was preparing to leave camp he controlled. transmitter for which they would go to the radio room. press his could keep watch using a spare receiver Morse key. tune in on a spare receiver. at the station. Steve saidthis was a type of turn up the volume and leave. The radio ‘insurance‘ communication system. operators never missed a scheduled A radio amateur enthusiast since message (on the hour), or his one 1946. Steve built a two transistor emergency call. transmitter measuring only 107 x 82 x 34 Steve quotes from his diary: “0n mm. and weighing only 220 grams - less 19Jitly 1961 at 7a.m. we loaded the sled, than 8 ounces. It could be carried in his harnessed in the dogs and with Ray windproof chest pocket. The crystal Torckler at the helm, riders George frequency was at the lower end of the Hemphillandself, we went like hell outof amateur 40 metre band (7008 kHz). but camp. We madefast time to the vicinityof with an input power of only 20 mw this the cone moraine where we struck either was not a problem. The power supply a rock or hard sastrugi and one of the was a 6 volt lantern battery. and the aerial runners broke in two. [put in a call on my was a small roll of hook-up wire rolled pocket transmitter and Bill Burch out on the snow. appeared in less than an hour. Made it There was no receiver. and one home in snow storm at noon.“ simplysent the messagetwiceat moderate Steve said the radio operator on

Grimsley

5.

Photo:

Antarctica 's smallest transmitter, built by Steve Grimsley at Wilkes in 1961. 28 MM76 —ju@/leig]u5t 2001 duty had copied his message consisting Contact with the French station at of the words ‘broken runner" and their Amsterdam Island was still being made position. which was about 15 kms from using CW. and Morse operators at all the station. Bill Burch promptly packed a French stations in the region were saddle bag with materials for an competent and fast. The French station of emergency repair and set out on his two- Dumont d‘Urville in Adelie Land stroke BSA trail bike. remained in regular contact with Wilkes by CW from the first days of IGY. The 1964/65 French also worked Mirny in the early Morse Declining days. and communications were made Laurie Turnbull. supervising via CW until the 19703. technician. produced some interesting Molodezhnaya was not part ofthe statistics for the 1965 Mawsonmidwinter Mawson network unless aircraft were magazine. High Lassinrde. The station involved. One morning. immediately by this time boasted a large antenna ‘farm‘ following the first pre—dawn schedule of some 25 steel masts. rising to 70 feet. between Mawson and another Morse with an array of rhombics. vees. and station. Oleg Brok in Molodezhnaya other antennas for transmitting and called unexpectedly using the foreign receiving. station‘s frequency. He had been unable The radio station still functioned to raise Mirny as propagation was poor. 20 hours or more each day. seven days a His signal strength was faint but readable week. Laurie calculated that 22 percent throughlight drift static. Oleg was anxious of all normaltraffic washandledby Morse for his weather message. which was code. with the balance by RTT. (The presumed to relate to imminent flying overall annual Morse component will operations, to be passed to Mirny at the have been higher, taking into account first opportunity. His unexpected and meteorological reports sent to Russian resourceful call was welcome. and the aircraft in flight in the spring and summer message was relayed soon after. months. and communications with various polar vessels. Closure of Davis Despite the decline in its use, Davis station was formally Closed Morse was still performing a valuable on 25 January 1965 due to reasons of service. For example. having been economy associated with the rebuilding evacuated in 1961. Roi Baudouin station of the replacement station for Wilkes. at Breid Bay. call sign ORV. was reopened The station was carefully ‘mothballed'. by a party of ten Belgians and four Aerial wires were lowered to the ground Dutchmen in mid—January 1964. shortly and stored at the station. ready to raise afterwards being again included in and use again in the future. The masts and Mawson's network ofMorse outstations. poles were left standing with all guy (It is believed this was the first time the wires secure and correctly tensioned. In Netherlands hadparticipated in Antarctic the radio office. an AR7 and a TR-lO activities.) receiver were installed in lieu of the W76 —Ju{y/flzgu5t 2001 29 existing two Collins SlJ-4 receivers were shocked at this news and some were which were returned to Australia, quite incensed at this inhumane action. and the two AT20 transmitters and the Doug said that when a new ART-l3 radio beacon were left in their Japanese expedition returned to Syowa a installed state. year later they found that many of the The station was then ready to dogs had slipped their collars and escaped withstand the onslaught of many savage - to where, no one knew. However. two blizzards in the years to come. If by of the dogs had stayed in the station area chance some marooned expeditioners or and were found to be fit and well after a flyers foundthemselves at Davis.it would yearofliving andforaging forthemselves not take long for a generator and the radio in the harsh environment. equipment to be pressedback into service. Many will have seen the Japanese film relating to this event. entitled 1966 Antarctica. of which English dubbed Reopening of Syowa Station versions are available. The story of the Syowa. call sign JOV. reopened two little canine heroes. Tara and Jim. is on 31 December 1965. havingbeenclosed well known to millions of adults and since February 1962. Syowa was again children around the world. included in Mawson's network of Morse stations. A year or two later its call was Antarctic Postage Stamps changed and is currently JGX. In September 1966 the Australian Doug Twigg reminded us of Antarctic Territory was honoured by the Syowa's earlier forced closure in Australian PostOffice. which issued a set February 1958. when he and others were of eleven stamps showing various at Mawson operating Radio VLV that ANARE activities in the region. The 25 year. The group worked Syowa several cent stamp depicts a radio operator timesdaily to exchangethe usualscientific transmitting a message by Morse in front and meteorological data. One day they of equipment bearing the station's call were informed by the Japanese operator sign VLV. that the station was to be closed. and all The identity of the ‘model‘ has personnelevacuatedby helicopter as their longintrigued us and the Philatelic Group relief ship was unable to reach them due of Australia Post has recently unravelled to heavy ice conditions. part of the mystery. According to an On their final schedule. the Syowa unpublished manuscript. written by the operator sounded most upset when head ofthe PMG Philatelic Branch in the biddinghis farewell. He informed Doug‘ 5 19505/60s, the radio operator depicted is group that their huskies could not be Alan Hawker who was our pioneer radio evacuatedandwerebeingleft at the station supervisor at Davis in 1957. — chained to their dog lines. In signalling The artist‘s excellent. lifelike, their own farewell. Mawson expressed stamp design is based on a photograph deep concern about this decision. and provided by ANARE. It is very similar to then radio contact ceased. All at Mawson one taken of Alan Hawker at Davis. In the 30 MM76 —ju{y/fl1gu5t 2001 originalthe stationcall sign VLZis clearly i The use of VLF by ANARE was displayed so we are unable to explain always an option. but the system required i why Mawson station‘s call was used high masts and great lengths of aerial instead. Richard Breckton of Australia Post's PhilatelicGroup 3:, says the change of the call sign was deliberate. but he Si}

cannot say why it g, , happened. Hesuggests x i ‘i , that the artist )3 perhaps I... “:5 (John Mason) decided m

to feature Mawson D ’ ' because it is the oldest 2 mainland station. The ANTARCTlC TERR53“on stamp was prepared in consultation with Mr Mason and Antarctic One of the eleven stamps issued by the Australian Post Office in Division officers. 1966 depicting various aspects of the work of ANARE. See text. Nevertheless know we now that both ‘ wire to radiate or receive effectively. Davis and Mawson are well represented Land-based VLF transmitters are usually in this unusual way. many times more powerful than HF transmitters, particularly those used by VLF Transmissions the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It In the fledgling years of radio, should be pointed out that the Navy ships VLF, or Very Low Frequency, were equipped with VLF receivers but transmissions were used as the principal not VLF transmitters. means of communicating. This was In Antarctica the Americans. like because HF was not widely understood ANARE, routinely used HF systems for or sufficiently tested at the time. Whereas years and were obviously considering HF is dependent on the ionosphere to ways to improve or increase reliability bounce signals between stations, VLF within their own communications transmissions produce a ground wave systems. In 1964/65,about 13 miles from and follow the general curvature of the the US Byrd station, a VLF antenna earth. Unlike HF. VLF systems are not system 21 miles long, with wire laid on necessarily confined to particular times top of ice 2 km thick. was tested and " of day or night, or need to be ‘matched' enlarged. A permanent facility was built to changing seasons or have to cope with on the site ofthe antenna and all countries an unstable ionosphere. ANARE did were invited to propose experiments for however use HF for almost forty years on this VLFantenna,the longestin the world. their long distance circuits with great success. Doug Twigg undertook some W76 —]u@/lezgust 2001 3’] experiments of his own using VLF, the edge of the polar ice-cap. several years before the US built their system at Byrd. Doug monitored VLF (Extracted/summarised from F{fry Years transmissions from Canberra/Belconnen QfAllStra/imz Radio Commmzic‘aiions in RAN station. call sign VHB. in the early the Antarctic, 1947-1997, a series of 1960s with great success. Using a low articles written by Allan Moore to frequency receiver belonging to one of celebrate the Jubilee Year of ANARE the Dan ships. he copied messages (the Australian National Antarctic broadcast from VHB. While signals were Research Expeditions) for Aurora. Club strong. he noted that they tended to Journal of ANARE.) MM quickly attenuateor dissipate not far from To be continued...

Plane Language

by John Worthington, GW3COI

s far as I know, in WWII all water because of foul weather. Morse leamers were taught how The aircraft in question was one of the 0 send and receive cipher groups famous Yankee Clippers flying from the air made up of five or more symbols per USA and was due to come on the at with group. Each group could be mixed letters any minute. It was winter, and a gale and figures. groups of letters only or driving snow was the sort weather no is groups of figures only. Operators were pilot wants especially when he aiming also taught to receive and send plain for a strange destination. language but in practice they very seldom Suddenly. the sweating RAF had the chance to use it. for security operator sat upright and grabbedthe audio reasons. volume knob as a very strong signal One stormy night in 1942 the smote his ears. It was audible to most of Signals Officer in charge of the evening the other operators whoweretuning other watch alerted the senior operator to tune frequencies and immediately the whole a certain frequency on his receiver and be ofthe signal cabin staff were twitching at prepared to work a civilian flying-boat the flood ofplain language Morse issuing which had been diverted to their landing from their headphones at a great speed. It 32 W76 —]u[y/flllgu5t 2001 was evident that the operator sending it no one requested the sender to slowdown was not going to lose time using ciphers. - but our operator was matching his He wanted infomiation. and fast. sending speed so the sender probably The receiving senior operator had assumed that his CW was being copied. collected his wits and wasscribblingwhat No sooner had the information he could of the message on the logbook, been sent when the aircraft came back to but it was a sorry mess of missed letters. say that the flare path could not be found He hadn't really taken plain language and that they had landed but would take since he left Morse classes a long time off again and have another look. They ago! He desperately asked for a repeat were now searching for the three small and. as it came back, at least three other boats that marked the path. The second operators nearby pitched in and wrote time he was successful and the operation down what they could. There followed a was over. quick conference between them all to We never found out what the assemble the message. The aircraft American operator thought about British wanted to know on which part of the operators but the next day he visited the Lough to land and how to recognise the signals cabin and left a full carton of flare path. There was a delay whilst this Camel cigarettes as a token of information was obtained from the appreciation. We discovered later that he operations room via a landline. This took used a bug key. We had never seen one some seconds and in the meantime the and in my case it was not until 1948 that aircraft came up again and repeated his I managed to obtain one (and ‘junk' my request. straight key for ever). Looking back. it is surprising that I should mention that I was not on duty thatnightbut heard from my pals. who had been there on the night, all about the mass of ‘clangers‘ that were dropped. They were swamped by plain language Morse during a daring double landing by a Yankee Clipper. one ofthe biggest flying boats then 1“WE DO")N k! T "' “T ”w WLD‘ ' in operation.MM W76 —]u[y/flligu.st 2001 k if Info Thug!

Readers are invited to contribute any additional informationand stories, no matter how minor, to the Editor, Morsum Magnificat. There have been thousands of designs of keys & telegraphy instuments. Information will be lost unless it is compiled in one place and shared with other readers.

DLtBFE

Ulsamer.

Greg

Photo/Collection:

x sift?» _ ‘30“, \

» 532 L4,; : .. om" V‘:ilj(()ir‘)i:\" g; L ”:3; ”is”: $33, This British in the ‘ key collection of Gregor U/samer, DL1BFE, is made . 2"} E ; 5 a) by A. MASON. Does anyone have any information on this key or the L " manufacturer.

This ‘key’ was purchased on E—bay by John Alcorn, VK2JWA VK2J WA. It wasjusta cheap ‘punt’ out of curiosity. From the pictures it would seem Alcorn. to be only a part of a key. The top part seems that the John knurled-screw fixes the top part onto some other assembly which would be Photo/Collection: the base and bottom contact. This would seem to be only the lever & spring etc. with the contact way out in front of the knob?? Is it a Morse key at all? 34 W76 —]u{1//fllzgust2001 Berghen-HaIIe—Belgium

Vanden

Fons

Photo/Collection:

This Bre’guetkey, in the collection ofFons Vanden Berghen—Ha/le-Belgium, is 100%original. Remarkable is that it has a second, smaller, key on the base. It has been suggested that this was used to ring a bell at the receiving end, but this could also be done with the regular key unless a second circuit were connectedutilisingan additional wire. Does anybody have any information on this interesting feature.

G3LNG

Robbins,

George

Photo/Collection:

This interesting bug key was acquired by George Fiobbins at the National Vintage Communications Fair, Birmingham, UK in April 2001. It is made to a professional standard- has anyone any info please. W76 —]u@/fllgu5t2001 if Telegraphic Speed

HE SEMI-AUTOMATIC KEY (or and Shortcuts 'bug’) and the typewriter around the turn of the made the century Don WA 18PM movement of traffic by the American by deNeuf, Morse Telegraph Code considerably (SK) faster than the old method of sending with a straight key and copying by handwriting.The urge was always present to “move copy faster‘ - especially in the Press field. Walter Phillips. a crack operator knew that in 1914 Phillips designed a for the Associated Press. devised a set of modified Morse telegraph code which he abbreviations even before the advent of felt would not violate the prevailing the ‘bug' and typewriter which went a sentiment attached to the existing code. long way in accomplishing this. He At the same time he feltthis woulddispose published his ‘Phillips Code‘ as early as of the drawbacks of the ‘spaced-dots‘ 1879 and it became the standard used in the letters C, O, R, Y, and Z. and abbreviationcode in the USA and Canada the extra long dash signifying the letter L. on press message transmission. His proposed code is shown in Figure l. 1 (old codes in brackets): Typed in Full ‘AB‘ stoodfor 'about‘. ‘BC' stood Not Adopted for ‘because' and ‘CCN‘ for ‘conclusion‘. Despite occasional errors caused ‘WlT‘ meant ‘witness' . ‘RKZ‘ recognize. by careless senders using the original and so on. Skilled receiving operators code ( ‘seen’ for ‘son‘, ‘sheep‘ for ‘shop‘. using a typewriter could easily type out ‘tease' for ‘lease‘,etc). Phillips‘ proposal the abbreviated word in full and ‘keep never caught on — habit is difficult to up’ with the sender as fast as he could go. change and some operators felt strongly ‘POX‘ was the code for ‘police’. that the spaced dot letters provided A news dispatch once referred to a somewhatfastertransmission than would breakout of smallpox somewhere. One the proposed code. absent minded operator copied this as ‘a IfPhillips had been able to present breakout of small police‘! his proposed code somewhat earlier it might have been the one eventually Modified Morse code adopted internationally to replace While many operators became Morse‘s on'ginal code which was not familiar with his abbreviation code. few satisfactory to many European countries 36 MM76 —ju[y/augu5t2001 :an-zmmmunum || N

----— (—l

Figure 1 - Phi/lips’ proposedmodified Morse with old code in brackets

for two reasons. The spaced dots were L. and provided for the accented letters. not practical on sluggish ‘swinging Morse's original code remained needle‘ type circuits and submarine the standard for landline telegraphy in telegraphy. The other reason was that the North America. despite the use of code made no provision for diacritical International code on overseas cable and letters as used in European languages. radio circuits and in maritime wireless communications. until the 1930‘s when Original Code Survival it began to phase out with the introduction Because of these problems an of teleprinters which replaced manual International Telegraph Conference held Morse telegraphy. in Berlin in 1851 devised and adopted the (There is a detailed description of the present day ‘International‘ code which Phillips Code in MM6], p.34. A‘far'simiie utilized someofMorse'soriginal signals. reprint oft/7e 1923 version is obtainable eliminated the spaced dots and the long from the MM Books/teif. Ed.) MM

G-QRP Club The G-QRP Club promotes and encourages low-power operating on the amateur bands with activity periods, awards and trophies. Facilities include a quarterly magazine. Morse training tapes, kits, traders’ discounts and a QSL bureau. Novices and SWLs welcome. Enquiries to Rev. George Dobbs GSRJV, St Aidan’s Vicarage, 498 Manchester Road, Rochdale, Lancs OL11 3HE. Send a large s.a.e. or two IRCs

W76 —Ju@/flltg7ust 2001 .77 fThe Talking Machine and the Railways Y THE LATE 1840's. single line railways were inco1p0rating W. F. Cooke's recommendations and were using the telegraph as a means of Part 2 — Order Out of traffic control. The already established majorlines. however.continuedto control Chaos their trains by the 'time interval‘ system. Theoretically. the system was sound by Peter Brankin enough. but in practice it was disastrous. Trains were dispatched at set intervals which had to be maintained along the line. The driver was in sole and complete control of his train and had to ous and erratic. Action was eventually ensure not only the speed/time factor but taken in 1851 by C.V.Walker. Telegraph also keep a sharp look-out for obstacles Engineer on the South Eastern Railway or damage to the track. The system took (SER). Haifa mile outsideLondonBridge no account of engine failure or other station. the London & Greenwich. Lon— hazards and with slow. don Brighton & South the stopping—trains being Part 2 of Peter Brankin's article on Coast and South of Eastern dispatched ahead the part played by the railways in railways con- chaos The signal— expresses. soon Britain in the development of verged. emerged. communications. man'sonly sure means To addto the the train gen- First published in ’Transmitting’ - ofidentifying nation— the eral confusion. a The Newsletter of the Museum of was by configura— wide network of rail— Communication Foundation, tion of lights on the ofthe By ways was developing. Bo'ness, Scot/and. front engine. Junctions with other the time these were lines - all running inde— visible - and with Lon- pendently and to their own set times - don's fogs they frequently weren‘t — the produced accidents and delays... A little train was already in the station! like Heathrow Airport operating without Walker's idea was simple and Air Traffic Control! effective. He installed a bell telegraph between the station and the junction at Bell Codes Spa Road. half a mile away. Signalmen As the railwaysexpanded.the situ— were posted at the two positions and by a ation deteriorated. with areas in and simple code of bells —1 ring for Croydon. around London being the most hazard- 2 for Brighton and 3 for the SER -the safe 38 W76 -ju4//flitgust 2001 Db‘lglltfilI'l‘lallc'uclylum

vauluell

runs

FnOIOILOIIeCIIOII;

Two block bells with tapper

and correct destination of the train was signalmen entering all signals and times ensured. in a day book. The bell telegraph system Walker refined this system to was subsequently used by the London provide a simple block telegraph for use Chatham & Dover and North Eastern on the SER. Bell codes were passed railways. between adjacent signalmen (by now Bell and Needle Telegraphs housed in rudimentary 'boxes') to control Throughout this period. businessman the passage of trains: SignalmanA sent 1 Edward Tyer was developing a system ring of the bell to ask Signalman B if he which incorporated bell signals and nee- could accept the passage of a train. B dle telegraph. This, the forerunner of 1 replied with ring for 'yes' (no reply for today's system.wasfirst installedon some 'no'). On the arrival of the train, B sent 3 of the busiest sections of the SER and rings to A to announce the arrival, to later on the North London. Great North A 3 in which replied with a further rings of Scotland and Furness Railways. Sepa— acknowledgement. The process was then rate 2-position needle instruments. de— repeated all along the line. with the noting 'Line Clear'/'Train on Line'. were W76 —,’Iu[y/flllgust2001 .39 used for the Up and Down lines and coloured red and black respectively. Their Berohen-HalIe-Belaium purpose was to provide a visual indication of the state ofthe line and this informa- tion was re—inforced with a Vanden sound signal; a bell for one line and forthe other. a gong Fons When a train left Signalman A, he senl 2 rings to Signal- man B, who manually Photo/Collection: changed his needle instru— ment to read 'Train on line'. This indication was electri— cally repeated on A's instm- ment, creating a 'block‘ which A could not remove. B altered his needle to read 'line Clear‘ when the train reached him; this restored A's needle to the ‘Line Clear“ position and he acknowl- edged this with 1 ring. Tyer's was only one of several methods of train controldevelopedduringthe mid- 1 850's to early60‘s. The Block bell need/e telegraph main drawback was that‘ unless otherwise indicated, the line was uniformity of signalling methods and considered to be clear; on several equipment. Needle instmments were to occasions this proved to be a dangerous be clearly labelled and apply to only one assumption! line. 'Speaking lnstmments‘ (Cooke & The introduction of a 3-position Wheatstone‘s Electric Telegraph and needle improved the safety factor Morsecode) were to be installedto enable considerably. The new instrument signalmen to communicate effectively, indicated 'Line Clear'/‘Train On Line‘/ without relying on the cumbersome ‘Line Blocked'. Signalman A therefore system ofbells and signals. Needles were could not dispatch a train to Signalman B to be kept in the ‘Blocked Over' position until B had given ‘Line Clear'. and only activated if something was out In 1863, the Board of Trade laid of order. down certain principles to ensure To be continued... MM 40 MM76 —ju@/lelgu5t 2001 Wfi’mfirkfl

5pecia[i5t $00k; on Tekgrapfiy 5y MaifOrrfer

ALL WORLD ORDERS ARE SHIPPEDBY AIR MAIL UNLESS OTHERWISESTATED

The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage (MM63)

The history ofthe electric telegraph in the nineteenth century. from its beginnings. and the social impact of instant communication on the Victorian world. This book is about a technology that made the world a much smaller place. Enriched with examples and anecdotes of telegraph applications. Soft back. 216 pages. £8.30 UK £8.40 EU £9.30 World

Classics of Communication (English Edition) by Fons Vanden Berghen CLASSlCS OF COMMUNlCATlON A book of exceptional quality produced originally to accompany a Brussels Exhibition sponsored by :1 Brussels bank. Illustrated with 240 high quality photographs. 140 in colour. including many rare telegraph instruments. The text includes the history and technology of electricity through to wireless and early television. but a large section of the book is devoted to telegraphy. Without sponsorship. a book of this size and quality could not have been economically possible for such a limited readership — 107 pages. 24.5cms x 29.5cms (9.7in x 11.6111). £16.95 UK - £18.25 EU - £21.00 World (US $36k?

Telegraph Collectors Reference CD-2000 by Tom Perera

tracts/«Pu cattrcrons (A/SO works on the Apple Mac) m“50593? An absolute mine of information for collectors compiled from variety of sources

twl‘rm v ~r:~ including important web pages (See MM70. p11 for details). Users need a PC running Explorer or Netscape web browsers to access the CD. The great advantage of using the CD is that the browser software is used off—line. which means that no phone connection is needed. As a result access is much faster and the CD includes the whole of ‘Perera‘s Telegraph Collectors Guide‘ and his cyber-museum but with high resolution pictures. many in colour. A draft of the cumulative index of MM is included. £9.00 UK - £9.20 EU - £9.70 World UK EU WORLD

Perera’s Telegraph Collector’s Guide by Tom Perera £7.60 £8.10 £8.90 An essential pocket-size reference guide for collector and historian The Story of the Key by Louise Ramsey Moreau £4.25 £4.50 £5.00 The Best of MM Vol. 1. 77 photos/Illustrations, 60 pages. Wake of the Wirelessman by B. J. Clemons £14.20 £14.70 £17.00 A true story of an early maritime wireless operator “Q41" and Beyond by Shirley Lawson £6.20 £7.20 £7.90 The story of a Wren (Womens Royal Naval Service) telegraphist CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE MM76 —]u€y/Jziu(gust 2001 4’] UK EU WORLD

Railroad Telegrapher’s Handbook by Tom French £8.00 £8.30 £9.00 Old-time telegraphy on the American railroads Bunnell’s Last Catalogue with notes by Tom French £5.50 £5.70 £6.00 Illustrates and describes the company’s many telegraph instruments History, Theory & Practice of the Electric Telegraph £13.95 £14.95 £17.50 (facsimile reprint of 1866 edition) by George B. Prescott Watchers ot the Waves by Brian Faulkner £15.00 £15.50 £17.10 A history of maritime coast stations in Britain Keys, Keys, Keys by Dave Ingram £8.50 £8.90 £9.80 A visual celebration of the Morse key Marconi’s Battle for Radio (children’s book) by Birch & Codield £5.85 £6.00 £6.80 Illustrated story book. A presentfor the grandchildren Radiotelegraph & Radiotelephone codes - Prowords & Abbreviations by John Alcorn £12.85 £13.70 £15.50 A History of the GPO Mark 1. 2 and 3 Morse Telegraph Keys by Dennis Goacher(MM65) £6.00 £6.50 £7.20 The Phillips Code - a facsimile reprint by Ken Miller(MM61) £10.00 £10.20 £10.50 Telegraph codes for press reports

Marconi’s Atlantic Leap by Gordon Bussey

Published by Marconi Communications. this is a ’5 hardback high quality book of 96 pages and Marconi describes the endeavours ofthe 27 yearold Marconi to prove that trans—Atlantic wireless transmission Atlantic Leo was possible against the views of many distinguished scientists. The book has been published to mark the centennial year of the landmark achievement between Poldhu. Cornwall and Signal Hill. Newfoundland on 12th December l90l. Illustrated with 71 archive photographs. documents and maps from both sides of the Atlantic. the book is published at £6.99 and is available from the MM Bookshelf at a special price. A copy of the 1999 Marconi Centenaries booklet will be sent free with orders. £7.00 UK - £7.50 EU - £9.50 World EU and World orders - Priority/Air Mail Prices include postage and packing

* Prices in US dollars may vary slightly withcurrency exchange rates and commission charges Credit card orders welcome by phone: +44 (0) 1630 638306 or Fax on +44 (0) 1630 638051 Please make cheques payable to ‘Morsum Magnificat’ Madurai-s ‘ —y] SEND YOUR ORDER TO: Morsum Magnificat. The Poplars. Wistanswick. Market Drayton. Shropshire TF9 EBA.—England Payment welcome by Mustcrcunl or Visa (quote your card number and expiry date) or by cheque/bunk draft drawn on u London bunk

42 MM76 —_7u[_y/flllg]ust 2001 9’0urLetters

Readers' letters on any Morse subjectare always welcome, but may be edited when space is limited. When more than one subject is covered, letters may be divided into single subjects in order to bring comments on various matters together for easy reference. Please note that the views in readers letters are not necessarilythose of MM.

Provenance on US wars. landline code migrated from Naval KOBs American Morse to International Morse. Needless say I have lots more questions for this old-timer. For years I've been looking for hard Neal McEwen, K5RW evidence that Naval ships in p011 were “The Telegraph Office” connected to landlines to conduct their nmcewen@metronehcom business. I haveaWWI Navyapplication http://www.metronet.c0m/~nmcewen/ for Radioman lst class. One of the tel_0ff.lztml requirements is proficiency in American Morse code. I have evidence that Naval shore stations used American Morse on Eddystone Bug Serial trunk lines. Now I have evidence that the Navy did indeed use landline Morse Numbers instluments on board ship when in dock. For several years I have been In the letter in MM75 from M. Watson, researching the Navy FOX circuit. G3JME. concerning his Eddystone Bug [recently found an old-timer who was Key. he quotes the serial number as intimately familiar with FOX and has E20660. provided me with infomiation that I’ve Readers may be interested to never found before. As a side benefit, he know that all Eddystone Serial Numbers gets side tracked into telling other stories incorporate the date of manufacture in a while a radioman from 1939 to 1945. simple alphabetic code. “When in port at Pearl Harbor, all In this case ‘E‘ indicates the capital ships were connected by landline month, May, and ‘2‘ indicates the year. where we used regulartelegraph sounders 1948. 0660 shows the key to be the 660th but used the regular radio type Morse manufactured. The numbers continue to code.” run through all the period of production So now we know why we find and are true quantities. KOBs with Navy markings. What we did Readersmay extrapolatethis code not know was that International Morse backwards from ‘Z‘, and also forwards was used! I suspect that between he two from ‘A‘=l949. In the latter case the MM76 — Jury/algwt2001 43 year is scheduled to come first, but the blocks to connect the smaller battery occasionally this is reversed. It seems (LB) for the local lines or to a bigger that the newest apprentice was given the battery (SB) for the longer lines, to job of punching the plates. He sometimes compensate for losses. A plug in the wasn’t sure which way round to do it and block can be seen in the photograph. didn‘t like to ask! In my younger days I had a Fortunately the correct answer is usually complete Ericsson key, the longer model, found by inspection. complete with plug, but threw it away as Graeme Wormald, G3GGL it was no use to me at the time. Eddystone User Group Gunnar Eriksson, SM4GL Worcestershire, UK Sviirdsjb', Sweden (Graemes letter refers to the 660’“ key made. Mine is serial A61906. This kills RAF Survival Heliograph the myth that only 500 were made.’ — Ed) With reference to the RAF Survival advert John filler Heliograph sent by Elwood, - Ericsson Keys WW7P. I have been the proud possessor of one ofthese since 1948, when I bought It was nice to see my short story about it in Bradford market for a shilling (5p in Oller and his keys in MM 74. I would like modern money but worth about the price to clarify any misunderstanding about of 5 cigarettes then). the brass blocks on these keys, used for The operating instructions are switchingbetweenthe batteries.Thebrass printed on the back of the stainless steel blocks at the far end of the base were only mirror, together with a sketch of the on the longer model; it was made longer operation, similar to that shown in your to accommodate them. There was a reproduced advert but without the cheesy shortingplug to put into the holesbetween grrn.

W1TP

Perera,

Tom

Photo/Collection: There is no other marking on the I had the opponunity. just after receiving back of the mirror, and the spelling of the MM75, to find the heliograph pictured word ‘centralizes' would indicate an on page 44 at a militaria flea market. I American on'gin. However the foresight scanned it and made a true original has stamped into it the RAF Stores drawing, withall the details.Theforesight Reference 27H/21 07; a broad allow (the and the stainless steel mirror are kept logo of the British War Department); and together by a leather lace. an unknown device. This takes the form The cross impressed on the of a violin in a circle. with two or three polished side is reflected onto the indistinct numbers or letters also within foresight when the beam is correctly the Circle. Does this ring bells with any of aligned. our Nonh American cousins? The whole system works very Graeme Wormald, G3GGL nicely (in sunny weather!). Some of my Worcestershire, UK neighbours can ven'fy this...! Jacob Henri, F6GTC Hoenheim, France

\\ ,

l , \ a .

RAF-‘5: MERRQk‘ . /’ \. ,' . ‘ t = 1 3 3:: l' _ told a»: fwrngsht ms left hams in e: with the iargei abeut *3 mr-he' in 3mm of Hm k :2 Puma Uh: 2mm M 1m; mum: umm‘dcany in mm m m» u in who ugh: mum “2:11 “my; my mm N : harass (my g on target :3 f‘Qoxck (he twrmr Hfilll me 1305“ mac, Anoraw‘ my l Q v the Tu {right mu; Um Muck an)”. x rmhuhxrz. cm the 5 for :gm : 9. m; I N i" am 3?. than {Sn 4 ”ma 4m m mo 5 ~ taught ' :5 hand dues the. m- z axim Hunky

Above - back of mirror

W76 —Ju@/flltgu5t 2001 Angled Chinese Key

I came across information on this modern military transceiver manufactured in China. An interesting feature is the Morse key which is angled for ease of operation. Is there a left- handed version? Alan Williams, G3KSU Somerset, UK

Thanks to BT Archives archives/ and http://www.pro.gov.uk/ finding/defaulthtm ThanksBT Archives! I must thank British Telecom Archives John Alcorn for the cooperation and assistance they NSW, Australia have given me. I have been researching Telegraphand RadioProceduresetc. since ADGIL Bug Keys 1997 and have had occasions to request information from them. I came across this advertisement in the I congratulate them for their October, 1937 edition ofthe RSGB “T. & service. The help and information R. Bulletin”. Has anyone owned or seen provided has been far beyond their an ADGIL bug or have any MM readers service obligation. The tone and nature further information please. of their con‘espondence has been most George Robbins, G3LNG friendly. Liverpool, UK Their research capability is limited but the archives are available GETTING A BUG: Then you should rcuwmlwr that for researchers by the ADC”. “IT; is unbeatable appointment. lmih in quality and writ-c mid Contact them and ask is: the only AILBritish Rug Key. for the “User‘s Guide to the BT Archives”. Their e-mail BU‘Y AN .KDGIL III?“ address is [email protected] PRICE (Eieiiii) To search the 2l/- archivesvisittheir web pages THE ADGIL INSTRUMENT CO. at http://www.bt.com/ 35, Manor View, Finchley, London, N.3. 46 M76 —ju{z//fllzgust2001 £62?ng - carzz‘z‘zzz/e/ few/5%

Readersadvertisements are free to MM subscribers. The number of insertions should be specified. Morse Trainer MM74 P38 otherwise it willbe assumedthat/tis required in the next issue only. Non-subscribers are welcome to advertise in the Classified Ads section. Please There is an adveltisement on the web site contact MM for styles available and rates. of Army Radio Sales Co at New - Ads can include one photo free of charge www.armyradio.co.uk which describes FOR SALE this unit as “British Army Morse Key Trainer HUGE 11 YEAR Telegraph Surplus to Made by Irwin Desman Ltd. in England. be whittledaway. Wireless.landline.code NSN 6940—99—219-2848. These keys books. & other books/paper. learning were used by the MOD in the training of

‘ machines. U.S.. foreign. military. 2 parts. new radio The unit uses ‘ operators. — etc. Specific enquiries invited - can send standard 9 Volt “PP3” Batteries. Built in ‘ e—mail. pics etc.. Dr. Joe Jacobs. 5 sounder with external speaker jack. Has Yorktown Place. Northpon NY 11768. Tone and Volume controls. adjustment U.S.A.Fone:+1-631—261-1576.Fax:+1— Morse key is fully adjustable and is of 631-754-4616. E-mail: [email protected] sturdy metal construction.“ I Editor THE MM Q & Z CODEBOOK. a com- prehensive 82-page list of the Q-codes

3 and Z-codes. including a one-page list ‘ of the Q—codes of 1912. Avail- THE MORSE ENTHUSIASTS original able from Dick Kraayveld PA3ALM. GROUP SCOTLAND Merellaan 209. 3145 EH Maassluis. Hol- land. Price £5 UK. 01‘ US$10.00 outside UK. including postage in both cases. Payment accepted in cash only.

MEGS was formed in 1991 to encourage the use of Morse. especially by EXCHANGE & WANTED newcomers. Regular skeds are held using our callsign ‘GMGRSE‘ each Monday and B Thursday from 7 until 9 p.m. (local time) WANTED: Marconi 365Aor key with around 3.530MHZ. Among other services. roller bearings. Will pay going price and we offer Morse practice tapes free of charge. it willend other than postage. This offer is now also up as propertyofRadioOfficers available to MM readers. Membership is Association as an addition to the open worldwide. the 'Scotland‘ in our title equipment held. Contact David Barlow. simply shows place of origin. Lifetime membership £1.00. G3PLE. Pine. Churchtown. Cury. Nr Details from Secretary: G.l\l. Allan Helston.Comwall.TR12 7BW.UK. Tel: Gl\I4HYF. 22 Tynwald Avenue, Rutherglen. Glasgow G73 4RN. +44 (0) 1326 240738. e-mail: Scotland. dbarlow@lizardwirelessorg Mill/[76 —]u[y/flllgust2001 47 WANTED TO BUY: Telegraphic Code fzwmflfl Books. as used to reduce the costs of telegrams by replacing common phrases WANTED TO BUY: Back issues of with codewords. Would be interested in MM nos. 1 to 7 and 1 1 to 18 incl.. also late both originals of photocopies. I am a model Jones twin paddle with red base. hobbyist in Cryptography and am Tel: 01202 475048. facinated in different ways data is and e-mail: [email protected]. has been represented for different WANTED TO BUY: Old large purposes (e.g. speed. economy. etc.) Also interested in commercial Morse key such as H. White confidentiality related items. Letters to Mark Darling. 1918, or GPO double-cunent type keys, 132 Knowlands. Highwoflh. SN6 7NE, with or without the metal/metal-glass United Kingdom or e-mail: cover. Would consider exchanging my [email protected] old Air Ministry Morse Key Type Bl. Ref: ICE/7839 in as new condition.Letters WANTED: Early paddles such as the to: D. Johnson W5FZ. 15514 Ensenada Nikey. Autronic, Ham-key HKl & HK2. Drive. Houston. TX 77083—5008.Texas. Ray Bullock, 40 Little Harlescott Lane. USA. Or Email: [email protected] Shrewsbury SYl 3PY.England. Tel: +44 1743 1 AM A KEY COLLECTOR with over (0) 245896. 300 different keys from 20 countries and have 50 keys available for swapping. Write to Henri Heraud.F6AUO.9 Avenue MM Binders de Bellevue. 91130 RIS ORANGIS, FRANCE.

WANTED: TELEGRAPHY ITEMS (esp. land-line). I am looking for somewhat special telegraphy apparatus: Single and Double Needle. Wheatstone etc. Buy or swap. 1 can swap for early electricity (e.g. tubes from Crookes. Rontgen and Geissler; Ruhmkorff; Wimshurst;..), very old radiovalves,some telephony and ofcourse telegraphy. Who else collects telegraphy ‘2‘? All letters answered. Fons Vanden Berghen; Lenniksesteenweg462/22; 8- 1500 Halle. Belgium. £7.90 ...... UK £8.50 Europe Tel. +32.2.356 05 56 ( home: after 8 pm ...... £9.80...... Rest of the World (Air Mail) my local time) or office: +32. 16.38 27 21 or e-mail: [email protected] 48 MM76 — Jug/alga“ 2001 Tnnsmmn / valve .4 2’ Bug. H 1‘ . x; 4’1; V c. w. Aennl run": 44“ «who: He mu m. , ' ‘ f‘ue when n = . - (”ii/'4‘?" 8 ‘ -, ' Remark.a, _' ‘Fq (km M

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IVAN '1 WM Uperfimg huuu Arum 7 l»- l'.‘ 0 N T A R R I. U “'L S ‘ mu». .3! Z-znc-OporatorlvanO’Murawaspanofa OSOMIstXrecordoIaOOmfles whonhoanswmdcsadmyarmmm 1924m121meunmesa/med overflows. DiscardoonfimncuntaamszuMJemyUSAstafion, in June 1925011me. WIRED LOVE : .13. Romance of Dots and. Dashes. By ELLA CHEEVER THAYER. An exceedinglyinteresting. smnsing. sud popnlsr work. end the first telegraphic novel published. Every telegraph" should reed it. 256 PAGES. CLOTH. PRICE. 76 CENTS. CONTEX‘X‘B: Sounds from s Dlstsnt "0 "—M the Hotel Hermon—Visible end Invisible Friends—.Nelglnhody Cslle—Quimby BurrsPoohln n nears—Coll. so! the Bounce —-“ Good-Bye"—The Pent—Unexpected Visitors—The token Ctreu t Reunited-Jule Kline Teleursphtcslly heated-mosses on the Line—TheWren; Women—Quinta Accept- the filtration-.011. Summer Dev—0. x. The writer of this clever, bright sto had A hep?) inspirstion when she hit upon it: sub ect. Her work gives e p easing and sithtul insight into the every~da life 0 telegraph operators; mule end temele. In the development of the p at, their recreations, loves and jeelousies. the humor which lightens their toils, their business aspiration. diverse peeulisrities, end their domestic life, are delightfully described and ell consistently within the artistic neceui‘ ties of the successtul novel. People who tslre up this work went to reed it from beginning to end without stoppin . “ Wired Love." remarks the Chi- cago Intrr- Ocean. " is it good book to me e you forget business and cues, and letvefl pleasant memories behind it." The Boston Transcript sdvises .every one who wishes to reed a bright. origins! book. end desires s good leuch. to buy “ Wired Love." The New York Mail eomlnends it for its “ cleverness and humor." The Boston Herald sdde that the “ hook is written in en essy, off-hand style, is pervaded with quiet humor. while its sentimentel portions contain some suggestions of wisdom that ere expressed with greet. force. beauty and originality.”

Thefirstte/egraphicnovelpublished7Advenisemem from the Journaloflhe Telegraph, November20, 1887