1'£um6er 23 - f£aster 1992

... %e Morse. Magazine.. - MORSUM MAGNIFICAT was [lTst published in Holland, in 1983, by the late Rinus Helkmons PAOBFN. Now published in Britain, it aims to provide international coverage of all aspects of Morse telegraphy, past present and future. MORSUM MAGNIFICAT is for all Morse enthusiasts, amateur or professional, active or retired. It brings together material which would otherwise be lost to posterity, providing an invaluable source of interest, reference and record relating to the traditions and practice of Morse.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: For one year (four issues) United Kingdom: £8.50 per annwn, post-paid Europe, including Eire: £8.50 sterling Other countries: Surface mail- £9.00 sterling (or US $17.00 cash only) Ainnail- £11.00 sterling (or US $21.00 cash only) Cheques payable to 'G C Arnold Partners'. Payment by Access, Eurocard, Master­ card or Visa is also accepted; quote your card nwnber and expiry date. Please note that, owing to very high bank charges for currency exchange, we are unable to accept overseas cheques, drafts, money orders, etc., unless payable in sterling. Overseas cheques and drafts must be drawn on a London clearing bank.

EDITORIAL AND SUBSCRIPTION OmCES: Morswn Magnificat. 9 Wetherby Close, Broadstone, Dorset BH18 8JB, England Telephone: Broadstone (0202) 658474; International +44 202658474 EDITOR Geoff Arnold G3GSR CONSULTANT EDITOR Tony Smith G4FAI, 1 Tash Place, London NIl IPA, England. Tel: 081-3684588 © G C Arnold Partners 1992 ISSN 0953-6426 Printed by Hertfordshire Display Company, Ware, Herts.

ON OUR FRONT COVER A GNT Undulator in working condition. Photo by Dennis Goacher G3L1.Z Contents

IRST OF ALL, AN APOLOOY to all of you 2 News F who were confused by the fact that they hadn't 6 Clandestine Radio - 2 had a ChrisbnaS issue of MM. I don't quite 12 Club ProfJ.le - 5: G-QRP know how it happened, but when I was laying out the front covez of MM22, I called it 'Spring 1992' 14 Readers' ADs instead of 'Christmas 1991 '. To get things back in 15 Obey the Rules step again, I've called this one 'Easter 1992', and the 16 American Telegraph next issue, due out at the end of July, will be called Instruments Makers - 1 'Summer'. 20 Reflections from In response to many requests from readers UncleBas-14 ovez the past year or so, I am pleased to be able to 22 Book Review tell you that binders for Morsum Magnificat will Bunnell's Last Catalog be available within the next couple of weeks. Each 23 Radio Bygones binder will hold two years-worth of MM - that's eight issues. For further details and prices, see the 24 Showcase annowx:ement on page 36 of this issue. 26 Marconi & the Isle of Wight The new 'MM Bookshelf service which was 32 Single Needle on launched in the last issue has proved to be vexy theLNER-I popular with readers. As I feared might happen, we 36 Binders for MM rapidly ran out of some titles, and I hope that those of 37 Bookshelf you who had to wait for books as a result enjoyed 38 My Days as an them when they did arrive. We now have stocks of aU Amateur Morse Examiner the books, and can fill your orders by return. 41 Your Letters In this issue, two new titles are added to the list - 48 Just Rambling ... neithex of them connected with telegraphy, I'm afraid, but for anyone whose interests extend into the wider 48 MM Back Issues & field of wireless history they will be fascinating. We In the Next Issue are expecting some new telegraphy titles from the pen of Tom French towards the end of 1992, and I'm sure that they will be of great interest We shall also be keeping an eye open for books on telegraphy from Yltivertisement any other sources. ltufe~

19 G4ZPY Keys ·

MM23 1 New ISWL Publication exchange, and telephone cables did not THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT go transatlantic until 1956. WAVE LEAGUE has recently published Until the 1970s telegraphists were a useful 25 x A4 page reference booklet, trained to use Morse code and also to read Standard Frequency and Time Signal the Murray code, the five unit system Stations of the World. punched as holes in paper strips. These Chapters cover (a) an explanation of skills became obsolete in the 1980s as the various time systems; (b) transmission systems were replaced. All work is cur­ systems used; (c) standard frequency and rently undertaken on VDUs but now the time signal stati~ in frequency order from two remaining telegraph grades, Telegra­ 16kHz to 22.536MHz and from 95.00 to phist and Telegraph Executive 'C' are to 17l.13MHz; (d) ca11signs in alphabetical be abolished after agreement between order, including location and frequencies, British Telecom, the uew and the CMA. am (e) countries in alphabetical order, with From The CTO Veteran. official frequencies, transmission times, address­ organ of the Central Telegraph Office es, systems used and QSL card policies. Veterans Association. Priced at £1.75 or 3 x IRCs post-paid, this well set out and helpful publication World QRP Day is available from ISWL HQ, 10 Clyde JUNE 17 IS DESIGNATED annually by Crescent, Wharton, Winsford, Cheshire the International Amateur Radio Union CW7 3LA, England. as World QRP Day. It is not a contest The idea is simply to try working with low Telegraph Grade Abolished power. THE 1ELEGRAPH GRADE in British Many QRP stations will be heard on Telecom was finally abolished at the end the amateur bands using typical power of March 1991, 151 years after the provi­ levels from 5 watts output down to milli­ sion of the first commercial telegraph watts. High power stations are asked to circuit Delving into the history of the avoid interference to these QRP stations Telegraph Service shows how important or, better still, to reduce power themselves a role it played in the development of and join in the fun! telecommunications. The first commercial circuit in 1839 Europe for QRP Success preceded the first telephone exchange by THE FIRST Europe for QRP Weekend, 40 years exactly. In fact the first trans­ organised by the G and OK QRP Clubs atlantic telegraph cable was laid 23 years (UK and Czechoslovakia), held last before the opening of the first telephone September was a great success. No fewer 2 MM23 than 50 logs were received from 14 spelt out punctuation, at speeds of 15, European and 3 DX countries and all 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 wpm, with each leading stations received certificates from speed transmission lasting three minutes. the G-QRP Club. After a repetition, at 15 wpm, of the Many useful comments were received salient points of the preamble an RNARS from entrants and these, together with news bulletin is transmitted, again at 15 the massive political changes in eastern wpm, which also provides useful practice Europe, have led to the rules being at the lowest qualifying speed. re-drafted for the next event which will One hundred percent copy at 15 or take place on 2-4 October 1992, when 20 wpm qualifies for the RNARS Code it is hoped there will be even greater par­ Proficiency Certificate and stickers are ticipation from low power stations both awarded for higher speeds up to 40 wpm. within and outside Europe. The certificate must be gained at 20 wpm Report from Gus Taylor, G8PG, on before stickers can be issued. behalfofG-QRP Club and OK QRP Club. A charge of £1.00 sterling, or the (For further information about the G-QRP equivalent in IRCs, is made to cover the Club, see Club Profile in this issue. - Ed.) cost of certificate, postage and packing. The speed stickers cost just the price of a RNARS QRQ Transmissions self-addressed envelope. TIlE ROYAL NAVAL Amateur Radio Since 1963, nearly 1600 certificates Society's Morse proficiency transmissions and many speed stickers have been gained were originally established in 1963 with by readers throughout the United King­ Creed and GNT Morse auto heads keying dom and in nearby parts of ElD'Ope. The a KW Viceroy transmitter into a trapped RNARS QRQ Manager, Mike Matthews dipole, and monthly QRQ runs have con­ G3JFF, looks forward to many more ap­ tinued almost without failure up to the plicants taking part in this popular service present day. which is available to all radio amateurs, Nowadays, the Morse autos have been whether members of RNARS or not replaced by a BBC Master computer with Informationfrom G3JFF on behalf of software speCially developed for RNARS RNARS. by GMOLEG, keying a Kenwood TS-830 plus Heatherlite linear into the trapped Morse Day at loaIst Grove dipole. TIllS YEAR'S MORSE DAY EVENT Transmissions take place on the first arranged by Poughkeepsie Amateur Tuesday of each month on or near Radio Club will be held as usual at 3.520MHz at 2000 UK local time. A pre­ Samuel F.B. Morse's country home, amble transmitted at 15 wpm gives all Locust Grove, (Young-Morse Historic information required to enable would-be Site) in Poughkeepsie, NY, on May readers to send in their entries and 23-24. Look out for station K2KN operat­ (hopefully) qualify for their certificates. ing mainly CW over most bands on both The second part of the transmission con­ days. In addition to the multi-dipoles sists of plain language text, including normally used, the station this year will 3 have a three-element Yagi tri-bander Specially adapted accommodation (vis­ beaming east in the hope of attaining more itors will find this next to the Gibraltar DX QSOs than in the past. Gun) has been provided by the museum There was great public interest in the which will feature an exhibition of equip­ station during last year's (bicentennial) ment later this year with permanent public celebrations with visitors crowding almost access. Additionally, it is aimed to have shoulder to shoulder between the operat­ amateur station GB2IWM (or other call as ing positions. appropriate for Multiple ear­ special events) phone jacks operating every were provided Sunday during for visitor's use, the main season club members with public ac­ versed in CW cess whenever and 'Ham lingo' it is staffed. The acted as tour Society's own guides and, as call is GOPZJ . can be seen in The pwpose the photo, Prof. 'Professor Morse' at Lorust Grove, 27 April 1991 of the exhibition Morse himself Photo by Dick Whatham K2JXU and station is to was present at increase public the celebrations! Portrayed by Dick awareness of the important role played by Whatham K2JXU, the Professor is always radio in war-time operations and, hopeful­ a big hit with the visitors, and Dick ly, to make contact with many people, himself enjoys playing the part. whether radio amateurs or not, who can Contributed by Don Stein W2PTF, help in the achieving the aims of the Soci­ Wappingers Falls, NY. ety either from personal experience and knowledge of historic equipment or from Duxford RS Re-ilaugurated a special interest in the subject At a re-inaugwal meeting held at the Active members of the Society are Imperial War Museum's historic Duxford also members of the Duxford Aviation Airfield on 8 March 1992, the Duxford Society, with various privileges, including Radio Society adopted a new constitution unrestricted access to the site, while dis­ with the declared aim of supporting an tant or corresponding members, including international interest in the history of overseas members, are also welcome. military radio, including all armed forces, There are a number of regular special para-military and clandestine (Resistance) events/flying days, etc., planned by the groups; assisting in the provision of an museum for 1992, and a special highlight exhibition of radio equipment at Duxford; in September will be the 50th anniversary and operating an amateur radio station at of the American Air Force's use of the museum, using both modern and Duxford airfield during WWII. Many historic equipment. American visitors are expected for this

4 MM23 occasion, including many (ham or not) who will undoubtedly be interested in the CW Activity calendar Radio Society's activities. President of the Ouxford Radio While care has been taken in preparing Society is John I. Brown G3EUR and its this information it is offered as a guide Chairman is Oick Pope G4HXH. Further only and prospective participants should information about all aspects of the contact the activity organisers to obtain Society, including classes of member­ the rules and check that the dates are ship, can be obtained from the Secretary, correct Mrs B.I. Pope, 95 Northolt Avenue, May Bishop's Stortford, Herts CM23 50S, 1 AGCW -OL QRPIQRP Party. England. 9-10 RSF CQ-M OX contest 17 RSGB County Roundup. New Hilld Key 30-31 CQ World-Wide WPX contest A new ready-assembled hand key has June been introduced by L-E-M Moulds, a 6-7 RSGB National Field Day. precision engineering company based 7 RSGB 70MHz contest near Blackpool. Featuring a massive 7 RSGB 50MHz contest ~ beam and trunnion, with solid silver 17 International QRP Day. contact points 0.040 inches thick, it has 21 RSGB 432MHz single/multi­ adjustable single-ball gimbal bearings op contest. which are claimed by the makers to be 27 AGCW-DL VHF/UHFcontest immune from any 'lock-up' due to ingress 27-28 RSGB Summer 1.8 contest of dirt or grit which might occur in a miniature ball race. July The price, from 1 April 1992, is 11-12 SARTS SEANET contest £37.95 plus £1.55 p & p. Callsign engrav­ 11-12 IARUHFChampionships. ing £5.00 extra. Enquiries or orders 18-19 AGCW-DLSummerQRP should be sent to L.E.M, 'Springfield', contest Staynall Lane, Hambleton, or Blackpool, 19 RSGB Low power field day. FY6 90R, and cheques should be made 25-26 RCV YV OX contest payable to 'G.H. McQuire'. Allow 28 days for delivery. If any readers have obtained one of these keys, MM would be pleased to receive their comments on its handling and performance.

The fl1W LE.M. aass key. The base now has rubber feet, not shown in the photo ~~------~ 9vf9vf23 5 HE POLISH RADIO CENTRE at Stanmore, in Middlesex, was set up following the escape of members of the Polish Army and Intelli­ gence staffs from France in 1940 when MAlN5 INPUT 110V",I2OY the Polish Government-in-Exile, original­ ly in Paris and then Anvers, was re-formed in London. The extremely important role of Polish covert radio operations, until the withdrawal of British Government ~mll~R support in 1945, has seldom been acknowledged. They not only provided the links with the Polish Home Army but also played a major role in the secret radio links with Occupied and Unoccupied France, with French North Africa (particularly important during the preparations for 'Torch', the Allied land­ ings in North Africa), and with Belgium Polish AP4 transmitter-receiver with siIgIe­ and the Balkans. stage 6L6 transmitter and superhet receiver. It was from Stanmore that the Poles Desig'Jed by T. Heitman at Starrnore provided the vital radio link in 1941-42 Drawing by David EcMwds with 'Cadix', the covert French/Polish/ Spanish cryptographic unit near Nimes by the 'London Poles', rather than the in the unoccupied zone of France; with Moscow organised 'Lublin Poles', were the Inter-Allied later harassed and (Polish/French) in­ often imprisoned telligence network in the immediate in France; with Clandestine Radio post-war period some of the links for Part 2 when representa­ the Alliance net­ tives of the London work (Giraud's by Pat Hawlcer G3VA Government-in­ DSR/SM network); Exile were put on and with the 'Rygor' trial in the USSR. secret Polish centre in Algiers. Poles also The London Poles have never forgotten played a key role in the secret air and that at least 4000 (and probably more sea movements in and out of France. than 10 000) Polish Army officers were Members of the Home Army and the put to death in 1940 by Stalin's secret Intelligence agents in Poland, controlled police in the Katyn Forest. 6 Polish Sets with Edward Fokczynski, formed the Chief designer of a series of excellent AV A Radio Manufacturing Company agent sets produced at Stanmore (AP and in Warsaw. It was this small specialist BP series, etc.) was Tadeusz Heftman firm that built the copies of the German who later became one of the founders Enigma cipher machine and the original of British Communications Corporation 'Bomba' machines that enabled the Polish (BCC). (Major) H.R. Adams G2NO, as cryptographers to make the first breaks Manager of Webb's Radio, off Oxford into Enigma. Street, London, supplied the Poles with They also built the Polish Lacida radio components, etc., and later became cipher machine and their radio expertise Liaison Officer between Stanmore and the contributed to the early use of HF radio British organisations. for Polish diplomatic and intelligence In the late 1920s several early Polish traffic. By 1943 the sets designed by amateurs (then operating with four-letter calls beginning TP) including Antoni EarlyequifXTIent for radio-agents, incilKiing Palluth (TPV A), Ludomir Danilewicz Mk VII transmitter-receiver, separate power (TP AV) and his brother Leonard, together Sl¢y !lit and early signal plan Hefttnan had g~ed the reputation as the De Gaulle. These included the MI6- best available at that time. A number were controlled Jade network which worked in supplied to MI6, to SOE and to DSR/SM, close co-operation with the French Kleber the French Special Services organisation group based in Paris, through which which recognised Giraud rather than De Gustave Bertrand, the French crypto­ Gaulle. graphic expert, continued to pass infonna­ tion after the Gennans occupied the south Down-played Role of France in 1942. The secrecy which has continued to It was the French Special Services surround British Intelligence activities (equivalent to MI5 and MI6) which estab­ has led to down-playing the value to the lished the first radio links with the UK, in Allied war effort of not only the Polish some cases via Spain, in the summer and links but also the activities of the French autumn of 1940. It was not until Spring Special Services and those Resistance 1941 that agents and equipment from the and Intelligence groups in France which, UK began to establish tenuous links. A until 1944, did not accept allegiance to Gaullist agent of BCRA, 'Remy', estab-

British Signals NCO examining equipment taken from a German racio-agent ~ arrived in the UK late 1940. (A similar transmitter was in the possession of agent Werner Walthi. See 'A hanging mattet, MM4, p.23) 8 MM23 lished an effective radio network during and KOs) were linked by radio to Berlin 1941-43 working to Weald, and later or Vienna and also themselves formed played a key role in 'Sussex', a joint control centres for further networks. British/American/French intelligence op­ At Stahnsdorf about 100 different eration for the invasion of France in 1944. radio equipments were developed before and during the war, mostly using regen­ TheAbwehr erative 'straight' receivers (l-v-l and It must also be recognised that the I-v-2), with transmitters ranging from Germans were pioneers of the organised about 2 to 250 watts output. During use of clandestine radio. In 1936 the 1942-43 a new main control station was Abwehr (German Military Intelligence) built at Belzig/Mark to replace Stahnsdorf began establishing a Secret Radio Report­ with more powerful transmitters and ing Service (Geheimen Funkmeldedienst) directional antennas designed by Ing. to coUect information from many coun­ Gruenberg. tries. A professional engineer (he was also In 1944, the Abwehr was taken over a radio amateur) Technical Superintend­ by the frightful RSHA (which included ent Black became responsible for the Gestapo, SD, ORPO, etc.) and its head development and production at Berlin­ (Admiral Canaris) executed. (A number StBhnsdorf of portable HF radio equipment of senior Abwehr officers were active for this service, including sets for radio­ in the German resistance to Hitler). Even agents; the site also housed a radio station. before seizing control of the Abwehr, The Abwehr set up an 'A' network RSHA Amt VI (foreign intelligence) had of clandestine radio stations in Czecho­ built its own radio network under Peter slovakia, Poland, France, etc., although in Siepen, with a large control station set up peacetime these came on the air only in 1942 (Havel Institute, Wannsee, Berlin) for occasional tests. 'Stay-behind' agents used mainly to communicate with the (J-network) with radios were installed German 'Zeppelin' agents in the USSR. in the border regions of Germany. The Abwehr also pioneered the use of portable Many Dangers battery-operated transmitters for military Throughout Western Europe, the reconnaissance teams (Abw-Frontauf­ Germans directed increasing eff

11 OUNDED IN 1973 by the modest cost, with two Rev. George Dobbs G3RJV, test preparation tapes, up with around 30 members, the to 14 wpm, and two code G-QRP Club is today the largest QRP improvement tapes cover­ (low power) club in the world with over ing 14-20 wpm; and has a 4000 paid-up members. QSL bureau for contacts Although not designated a CW club, made between members. most of the empha- An annual hand- sis in club activities book lists all mem­ and publications is bers and contains CW-related and the Club Profile - 5 information on the club is a founder­ The G-QRP Club services provided. member of the Specialised advice European CW Ass0- is available for indi- ciation. It also has contacts with QRP vidual members on antenna installation clubs in other countries through the World in particular locations; on circuit and QRP Federation. The club's definition construction problems, and for Radio of QRP powez is not more than 5 watts Amateur's Examination students. output CW or lOW PEP SSB. Club QSL cards are available by arrangement with specialist printers. A MagaziM Circuit Handbook, originally published The club's excellent journal, SPRAT in 1982, has been SO popular that it is (standing for 'Small Powered Radio now published by the Radio Society of Amateur Transmission ') is published Great Britain. quarterly. It contains many circuits, tech­ nical hints and ideas for QRP projects, AclivilUs together with club news, award and con­ On the amateur HF bands there are test information, an annual QRP calendar internationally known QRP calling fre­ and other items of interest to QRP quencies where QRPers can find fellow opa-ators. enthusiasts. For CW operation, the fre­ quencies are 1.843, 3.560, 7.030, 10.106, Services 14.060,21.060, and 28.060MHz. There is a data sheet service providing The club has weekly activity periods photocopies of circuits, etc., for receivers, centred on these frequencies, also special transmitters, transceivers, modifications activity weekends several times a year. for early commercial QRP equipment and These include an OKlO QRP weekend other projects; the club can supply a (in collaboration with the OK QRP Club) number of books, kits, printed circuit for contacts between the UK and Czecho­ boards, special components, and club in­ slovakia, and a 'Europe for QRP' week­ signia; it provides Morse training tapes at end, again with the OK QRP Club, which 12 '.M9rf23 tests QRP paths and conditions from one QRP Countries Award. Basic award side ofEwope to the other. for working 25 DXCC countries, with The climax of the QRP year is the endorsements for each further 25. The week-long QRP Winter Sports in the applicant must use QRP power for each week after Chrisunas which often results contact but the other stations may be in excellent contacts over remarkable using any power. distances around the world. Two-Way QRP Award. Basic award for 10 DXCC countries worked, endorse­ Rallies and Conventions ments for each further 10 countries. In all The club mounts a stand at several contacts both stations must be QRP. major rallies or conventions throughout QRPWAC (Worked AI Continents) the UK. where members can 'sign-in' and Award. Applicants must contact all six meet other members of the club. In co­ continents using QRP. The stations con­ opetation with the QRP Amateur Radio tacted may be using any power. Oub International (QRP ARCI) the club QRP Master's Award. Awarded to also attends the annual Dayton Hamven­ any member who holds awards for con­ tion in the USA where contact is made tacts with 60 members, 75 DXC<;:: coun­ with US members and new members are tries and 20 countries with two-way QRP. enrolled. CW Novice Award. This very The G-QRP Club mounts its own popular award is available to any amateur Mini-Convention annually in October, in who, during the first 12 months of holding Rochdale, with a full lecture programme, a licence, contacts 50 different stations bring/buy/swap facilities, component and while using CW. The Class A award is kit sales, an equipment display and :1 for QRP operation only and Class B is for large social area where members can contacts made using any power. meet for traditional 'eyeball QSOs'. The G2NJ Trophy is awarded annu­ ally for outstanding services to interna­ A wards and Trophies tional QRP. A number of awards are available to The Partridge Trophy is awarded club members only, while a CW Novice annually for the best antenna article ap­ Award is open to all licensed amateurs pearing in SPRAT. as detailed below. This award has been The Suffolk Trophy is awarded an­ instrumental in encouraging many new nually for the best technical (non-antenna) amateurs to take up CW as a regular article published in SPRAT during the year. mode. The awards programme culminates The G4DQP Trophy is awarded in the prestigious QRP Master's Award. annually to the member submitting the Worked G-QRP Award. The basic best log of QRP contactS made during award is for working twenty other the Club Winter Sports. members, and endorsements are awarded The Chelmsley Trophy is awarded for every further twenty members annually for the best QRP log submitted contacted. In all cases, both stations in a within certain criteria, including the use contact must be using QRP power. of single-element antennas not more than 9tf9tf23 13 35ft (10m) in height and 132ft (40m) in J length, covering the period January 1 to ~cufers Jl1)s December 31 each year. A QRP Day plaque is awarded annu­ A FREE SERVICE FOR ally for the best QRP log submitted as for YOUR TELEGRAPHIC the Chelmsley Trophy, but for a maxi­ SALES AND WANTS mum of 6 hours activity in contacting IARU Region 1 countries on June 17, FOR SALE International QRP Day. Amstrad pew 9512 word processor with two disc drives. Includes LocoScript Novice Licence v229 and LocoFile database. Daisywheel The club supports the new UK printer. All handbooks, etc. £250. Ideal Amateur Novice Licence and a number for writing articles for MM! Will deliver of new Novice licensees have already within reasonable distance from London. joined the club. A newly appointed Tony Smith G4FAI. Tel: 081-368 4588. Novice Licence Manager answers queries Free! Radio Communication in binders, from members on Novice matters and from 1972 to 1983. Offered as complete writes a Novice column in SPRAT. batch only (space needed!). Collect, or The club recommends the following free delivery possible within reasonable calling frequencies for Novices using CW. distance from LonOOn. Tony Smith G4FAI. l.960MHz (also 'phone), 3.570, 21.130, Tel: 081-368 4588. 28.130, and 28.360 (also 'phone), and club Back Issues or MM, Spare copies of membtts are asked to look round the bands Nrs. 8-10,12,15, 17-20fadispa;al. Keith at least once a day for Novice members. Dickens G4OCH, 26 Knaves Castle Ave., Brownhills, West Midlands WS8 7PN. Membership Tel: 0543 360372. Membership is open to all licensed radio amateurs and short-wave listeners HELP WANTED (SWLs), world-wide. Subscription rates Mac Key - Does anyone within reason­ are, UK £5.00, Overseas £6.00 (US $12.00 able distance of Swindon have a Mac Key cash or $14.00 check). Subscriptions may I could look at, to take measurements, be paid in local currency overseas via club etc., for reproduction purposes? Dennis representatives in Germany, France, the Goacher G3LLZ, 27 Glevum Road, Netherlands, and USA. Swindon, Wilts SN3 4AA Enquiries about membership should be sent to the Hon Secretary, G-QRP Club, WANTED Rev. George Dobbs G3RJV, Sl Aidan's Back issues or MM, Nrs. 3-5, 7, 12, Vicarage,498 Manchester Road, Roch­ 14-15. I.G. MantG4WWX,28 WeIboume dale OLll 3HE, England, enclosing a first Road, Childwall, Liverpool Ll6 6AJ. class postage stamp or 2 x IRCs. MM Back issues or MM, Nrs. 3 and 4. (Our thanks to G3RJV for his Gaspard Lizee VE2ZK, 666 Lamarre, assistance in preparing this profile) Laprairie, Quebec J5R IM6, Canada. 14 %%23 it on to a British Station on HF. That War commenced, I had just was all logged. Mistake number one. taken the then equivalent Going back to 500kc/s I called the of '0' Levels. As a Boy Scout I knew the 'Neutral' and gave him some advice which code and as a lad with an interest in doesn't appear in the Q-code. Mistake the works had an oscillator and key. The number two. But both of us in the Radio Navy and RAF didn't want me; I was too Room, and the Master, agreed and felt young, and short- better for it sighted as well. Next day, tied Seeing an up and starting to advertisement for Obey the Rules! load, the Radio Room was sealed Marconi, I made a by '& Spatts' few enquiries, read as was the practice up the Official for our vessels in Handbook and went neutral ports. A few for my test for the Special Certificate. hotD'S later, the Federal Communications I scraped through the Morse test, Commission men arrived, complete with just The examiner showed me how to set Sheriff and Star! They did not ask any up the transmitter. I then did it for him questions, just studied the Log and told and, probably because I could use a DfF us that ships of countries at war must not set, passed out I had learnt about the use the radio within their waters. A few properties of frame aerials from my months later, having survived a somewhat reading of 'anything about wireless'. unpleasant voyage, including a lifeboat I went to sea, used my spare time, and spell, I returned home to receive two some of my watchkeeping hours to study letters from the Post Office. the Admiralty Handbook. I still think that is is one of the best written books. On First You See It••• leave I sat for the First Class ticket and, One contained my 1st Class Ticket, surprise, surprise, learnt a trip later that I the other a letter detailing my crimes, can­ had passed. celling that ticket, and enclosing a 2nd Class one instead. My previously issued 'Neutral' Jamming 1st was to be retmned as it was now invalid. Just before the United States joined in Obviously, early in the war, tickets the War, the ship I was on was inside US were easy to come by, because of the need waters when we heard a distress call for continuous watch in our vessels, from a British ship being shelled by a however the International Rules had to be German raider. The call was immediately obeyed, even then. I have often wondered jammed by a 'Neutral' ship sending a if my indiscretion had occurred a month weather report on a spark transmitter. We later, after Pearl Harbour, whether any managed to read the distress and passed action would have been taken. MM 15 \

0'\'"'" American Telegraph Instrument Makers 1837-1900 01986 By Roger W, Reinke, Reprinted by permission from mas of The Morse Telegraph Club, Inc, This teble first 8ppeered 1987 in !JOTS & /J4.SHE$. journel of The Morse Teleoreph Club, Inc., Vol . XV Nos. 2-3-4. [)etes shown ere only epproxlmete end ere besed on tro eeteloos, petent detes, edvertlsements end other ephemere. Corrections or Id:Iltlons ere welcome; pleese write Roger W. Reinke, 5301 Neville Court, Alexendrie, VA 22310, or phone 703-971-4095. .

nAU.B. ADDRESS rur ~ PRODUCTS ~ Arnlrlcen Electrical Worl(s 61 Stewert St. PrOVidence, R.1. c. 1880 .. Steiner" keys •. Slme ... 461 CierI( Ave. Cleveler¥! 1894 Anders, George L. See Welch & Anders Anderson Bros. PeeKSk 111 , N. Y. c. 1875 P rectlce sets Avery, Thomes C. New York 1848 Keys ~rs, T111otson & Co. (A) 333 Chestnut St. Phllolphlll 1865-67 Genereillne

Beln,Alexender 1849-51 Chemieel Printers For O'Re111y's lines. Berber, Pel mer & Jones Utlee, N.Y. c. 1875 (S) UtieeFireAlerm. Bernes, Edmund F. 1847 .. Columbien " Register 1 Berm, Enos M. [See Grey & Berton] Bexler, Wl111em [See Speedwell Iron] Blettner (A) St. Louis 1851 Generel1ine Bllss , George H. & Co. (V) 41 Third Ave. Chlcego 1873-76 Generel1ine (S) Western ElectriC .. Slme .. . 220 Kinzie St. Chlcego 1876-79 Genereillne .., Seme ... Bllss, George H. 76 Merket St. Chlcego 1879 Genereillne As ElectriC Mdse. Co. Bliss, T111otson & Co. (A) 126, then 171 S. Clerk Chlcego 1868-70 Genereillne .. Slme ... 247 S. Weter St. Chlcego 1870-74 Generel1ine (S) Geo. H. Bliss & Co. •. Slme ... 54 S. Fourth St. Phllolphlll 1874 Generel1ine Brlltlley , Dr. Leverett 7 Exchenge PI. Jersey City 1867-73 Generel1ine Also mede fire elerm. Buen , NelsonA. 26-27 Werlng Block Clevelend 1872-84 Generel1ine (S) W.B. Clevelend. Buen , M.A. 26 Werlng Blocl( Clevelend 1870-76 .. Eurek.e" sounders .. ... end Sons" verlent. .. Slme ... 86 Benk St. Clevelend 1876 Generelline .. Slme ... 76 Frenkfort St. Clevelend 1876-82 Generelline .. Slme ... 144 Superior St. Clevelend 1882-84 Generelline (S) by W.B. Clevelend. Bulkley, Cherles S. 1848 Registers 2 (;,) MIY have been an agent only, and probably not 11\ Instrument ma ... g 1 With Zook; • ·copy· of Morse's patent? (V) Verlneatlon sought that this nnn actually made Instruments. ~ 2 'Copy' of Morse's pltent. (5) Succeeded by ... American TeleQraDh Instrument. Ma.t.ers Paa2 N~ I.-.. t1MEB.. APDRESS CJ..U. nAIES.. PROPUCTS ~

Bunne 11 • Jesse H. With T1110tson 1876-78. Bunnell . J.H. &. Co. 70 Courtlendt St. New York 1878-80 Generell1ne [See Pertrick. Bunnell] ... Serne ... 106- 108. then New York 1880- Generell1ne ... Serne ... 1 12 Uberty St. New York -19?? Generell1ne 3 Burrell . Semuel J. [See Merchent·s Mfg.] Burritt. J. &. Son Ith8CII. N.Y. 1865 Registers

GaIMen . Edwerd A. New York 1867 Printers Improved Lew's ticker C8lifornie Electricel Works 134 Sutter St. Sen FranciSCO 1877- Generllll1ne James Gemble on B08rd of Directors. cardwell. Dr. G.A New York 1896- Keys 8Ild sounders

:5 Acquired 19?? by INSO Electronic Prods . (Dr. Joe Jacobs. prop.> Inventory IlQUld.ted 1989- 4 The Caton shop. James G.mbl •• Supt. (see Cllir. Elec . WIts.> wa, owned by the illinoiS &. Mississippi TelegrlPh Co. S Stephen Chester joined his brothers In 1667. but lert in 1666 to join Partrict In Chester. P.rtrlct &. Co ...... f> See (5) ~

\ ,

~ American Tel.-aph Instryment Makers Paae 3

t1AWl APDRESS CJll. ~ PRODUCTS ~

DlIYls, DMltel Jr. Boston 1842-48 Rel/IYS (S) Palmer & Hall DIIYIS, Wt11 tllm E. 3 19 Newllrk Ave. Jersey Ctty 1869-74 Generlll1tne Elegent machining. ... Sm1e ... 341 Newllrk Ave. 1874- "Uncle SlIm" sounder DIt)', S.F. & Co. BlIllston Spll, N.Y.c. 1865 Generlll1tne DIt)', W.E. & Co. (A) Ptttsfteld, MIISS. 1876 Generalltne Decker ( See Lannert 8< Decker] Del/ll"ley Plltent Relit)' Co. 61 Brolldwlt)' New York 1881 Relays and sounders De Mler, John R. Coultervt11e, 111. 1877 Relay "cut-out" DonaldsOn, Dr. R.B. WlIShlngton 1842-48 Relays (S) Palmer & Hall DuBois, Chllrles H. & Son 61 Ann St. New York 1850-88 General1tne Durent, Chllr les 86 NlISSau St. New York 1869 "Nonpare11" Relay Pope connection?

Edtsm & Murray 10 Wllrd St. Newllrk, N.J. 1869-73 Registers, keys 7 Edt9Jll & Unger c. 1873 Edmands & HlIITlblet 40 Hanover st. Boston c. 1868 "Magneto" telegrllPh E1ectrlC81 Constr'n & Mllintenance Co. SIIn Franct9::0 1871-88 Generlll1tne (S) C1111fornla ElectriC81 Works ElectrlC81 Supply Co. 109 Uberty St. New York 1875-85 Generlll1tne Also mllde "Prosch" key Electric Improvement Co. GIIlesburg, 111. c. 1872 (S) Western Electric Electric Merchandising Co. (A) 76 Mllrket St. Chl~ 1879 General1tne George H. B11ss, Mgr. Electric Tell!!rllPh Works (V) 2nd & Chestnut Sts. Phl1l1delphlll c. 1871 (S) Fleming, Potter Emptre Electrical Mfg Co. 27-38 Will nut Sl Brooklyn c. 1887 SnllPper sounders Erpeldtng, J. (See HuttmllO, W.E.]

facer, W.E. 48 S. 4th St. Phl1l1delphla c. 1868 General1tne Farmer, Moses e. Boston 1852-57 Repeaters 8 farmer & WooaTlarl Boston 1857 - 62 Repeaters "6_,.,1 line" products Include It least keys, sounders and ,.elays. 7 Edison 1150 used BrldllY's shop. ~ a F.-me,. Invented duple)!, developed Boslon FI,.e Ala,.m system with Channing . To be continued... ~ G4ZPY PADDLE KEYS INTERNATIONAL 41 MILL DAM LANE, BURSCOUGH, ORMSKIRK, LANes., ENGLAND L40 7TG TEL. (0704) 894299 Following International success with our Very High Speed Twin Paddle Key, we now proudly present another World Winner which will complement the VHS and all other Paddle Keys. THE NEWG4ZPV MINIATURE IAMBIC ELECTRONIC KEVER This little beauty, measuring only 80 x 80 x 2Omm, is probably the most versatile Iambic available; and at a practical price. . No; we are not using anyone else's Micro-processor. This is a new one that has been programmed to our specifications. We also fit this little Gem under our Twin Paddle Keys, making them into the very attractive NEWG4ZPV COMBO Star features of this dynamic duo are too numerous to mention here

For information on all our Products, just send a 9" x4" SA.S.E. (GB), or 2 IRes Overseas

19 Y TICKET for a voyage nervous, I asked the Norwegian official if to the Far East on a well he could secure me a nice place as a radio known passenger ship operator on board a Norwegian ship. had been booked. I was going to join the He beamed as if I were a gift from radio operator group in Indonesia, at that heaven and exclaimed in English that time known as the Dutch East Indies. he was in urgent need of a Sparks. I just Various Dutch shipping companies were had to sign a two-year contract, offering trading between the a salary I had not islands and their dreamed possible. ships never left the At the same time he region. REFLECTIONS from handed me a train The crew for ticket to Antwerp these ships signed Uncle Bas -14 where my future on locally, while the Straight Out of Radio School ship was located. officers were trans­ by BastIan van Es PAORTW The Consul did ferred from Holland oot know the exact to the Far East by destination of the normal passenger voyage, although liners. My wages were to be 240 guilders he mumbled something about the West a month, about £24. During the voyage, Indies, a trip of a few weeks and then practical lessons were given by the experi­ back to Emope. In Antwerp, the freighter enced radio officers of the passenger ship appeared to be an old rusty steamer of for the benefit of the newcomers from about 6000 BRT, and she was in dry radio school who, after all, had 00 experi­ dock to be converted from coal to oil! ence whatsoever. (See MM15,p.19. -Ed.) My plans changed, though, when about a week before my departure I met an ac­ Everything in Perfect Order quaintance who had been working on for­ The radio cabin was a small paradise. eign ships for some time. He told me Slaies Everything was very comfortable and re­ about foreign wages and foreign experi­ assuring. The entire radio installation was ences that amazed me. To a 19-year-old, vintage WWII, exactly like the receivers who received one pound a month from his and transmitters back home. The radar, mother, these stories sounded like paradise. however, was another cup of tea. At the radio school we were taught Visit to Norwegian Consul the ins and outs of many radar sets, but the My friend's knowledge offoreign com­ one on this Norwegian vessel was com­ panies was limited to Scandinavian ves­ pletely unknown to me. The manuals of sels, and since a Norwegian consulate was both the radio and radar gear were proba­ very close to my home in Rotterdam I bly lost during the war, since there was decided to pay them a visit Extremely nothing of the kind on board. 20 According to the captain, everything time, though, we were still in European was in perfect order and there was nothing waters and on our way to Hamburg. I need worry about Nevertheless, as I Leaving Antwerp, we had excellent looked at the equipment and thought of weather for the North Sea, but after a few the voyage ahead, there was a queer feel­ days the situation changed completely. ing in my stomach. Stormy weather, cold and plenty of rain, and my stomach wasn't so strong after all. DestilUJlion West Indies Misery in the extreme! The departure from Antwerp went off As I suffered quietly in the radio nicely. The old man told me we were go- cabin, the chief mate barged in and told

ing to visit several north-European ports, me the captain wanted me immediately on after which we would cross the ocean to the bridge, on the double. The radar was the West Indies. There we would discharge on the blink. There were many strange our cargo, pick up a new one in Puerto echoes; I was supposed to know all about Rico, and return home. All together a it and repair the s.o.b. as soon as possible round bip of about ten weeks. since the captain could not do without it It did not, however, work out quite as as we approached Hamburg. he had forecast For me, it was the begin­ Trembling, I climbed the ladder to ning of a three year's voyage, after which the little deck on top of the wheelhouse, I signed off in New York since the vessel where the radar was located arid where, to never returned to Europe! In the mean- continued on page 23 21 ESSE BUNNELL was a Union log was published in 1918 as a hardbound telegrapher during the American book containing over 200 pages, the ma­ Civil War. In 1878, following an jor part of which covered supplies from association with L.G. Tillotson and other manufacturers. Around 1965, Bun- Company, he began nell published an his own company abridged papeiback manufocturing keys, version of catalog sounders, and elec­ Bunnell's Last Catalog No. 28 containing a trical buzzers in with commentary by Tom French selection of the com- New York City. In A Book Review pany's telegraph 1880 he reorganised by Tony Smith apparatus. and formed J .H. Probably intend­ Bunnell & Compa- ed as a company ny. He died in 1899 souvenir piece as but the company he formed continues (in much as a product list, the little (4Y4 by name at least) to this day. 6~) twenty-one page booklet illustrated The 28th edition of the Bunnell cata- many instruments from 1918 which were

J. H. BUNNI:LI.i • co. 6A In the early days of telegraphy, keys used a brass lever through which a steel pivot shaft was fixed. This made for a heavy key on which the shaft was liable 10 work loose from heavy use. In 1881, Bunnell obtained a patent on a "steel lever key" on which the lever and pivot shaft (trunnion) were parts of a single piece of Slamped steel. This design became the standard for keys ever since. The 1881 Sleellever key was originally a leg key; it was later offered in a legless model. Bun· nell's best model legless steel lever key was chris· tened the "Triumph." It used, for example, mica insulation as opposed 10 the fiber of the standard models. 6B The usual telegraph key has a circuit closer and is intended for use on gravity battery circuits. These batteries, typically of the bluestone or crow­ foot variety, put out a small, constant CUrretlt into a closed circuit as used on American railroads of the past cetltury. Dry cells require less maintenance and are not SUbject 10 spillage, but would rapidly wear down in a closed circuit. The circuit must be kept open except when keying a message. This kind of circuit (as used in European land-line telegraphy) required an "open circuit key. " 6C Another form of open circuit key. Since dry cell batteries lose capacity quickly under closed circuit conditions, the "circuit closer" on this model actually worked as a cut-out for the battery.

Two pages from Tom French's book (reproduced approximately halforiginaJ size)

22 ~~3 no longer available in the 1960s, although UNCLE BAS -14 surprisingly many were. No prices for continuedfrompage 21 the '60s were included in the abridged make the situation even trickier, the radar reprint, but were available on a separate antenna was mounted on top of a small mimeographed sheet. mast The next problem was to open the Tom French's booklet reprints the pag­ radar box. Shaking hands, water dripping es of instruments from the abridged 1960's from my nose, and seasickness, did not catalog and includes comments against make the job any easier, although fortu­ each item which are of value to those with nately there was a sailor on hand provid­ a general interest in the subject as well as ing moral and mental support to the specialised collector. It also includes a list of 1918 prices for representative Special Dispenser items, together with prices for those items The complete radar set was mounted still available almost half a century later. on a rotating disc, on the underside of The range of increase varied enormous­ which were a dozen carbon brushes. The ly. A nickel-plated, open-circuit leg key, lot had become soggy with sea water and No. 9036, for example, was $5.80 in 1918 obviously did not function properly. and $14.95 in 1965, an increase of 157 per I dried it as well as I could, and cent A nickel-plated 5 ohms Giant sound­ lubricated the lot with a special dispenser. er,No. 9076, wasS4.50in 1918 and $58.95 To this day I do not know the contents of in 1965, an increase of 1210 per cent! To that can, but after descending to the bridge demonstrate the usefulness of this publi­ I learned that the radar was performing cation, page 6 of Bunnell's last catalog is nicely again. illustrated here together with Tom French's The captain was extremely pleased and comments on the individual items. told me later that he had never expected BUlllleU' s Last Catalog (with commen­ me to repair that broken set Since then, I tary) (36 pages, softcover, saddlewire have repaired quite a few radios, but never bound, 5~ x 8~) is available from the again under such difficult conditions. MM publisher, Artifax Books, PO Box 88, Maynard, MA 01754, USA. Price $6.95 ~ _In the Apr/May issue, plus postage as follows: Surface $2.00 "'~NlES out now! per order any quantity or destination; Air, Wireless on board RMS Queen Mary Europe $5.00, Canada and Western Hem­ Inside the Eddystone 88BA Receiver isphere $3.50, Asia/MricaIPacific Rim The 'Gee' VHF Aadionavigation System $6.50. All payments in US funds only. Researching the Chakophone Readers outside North America who Annual subscription (6 issues) £17 to UK addresses, £IS overseas by sudace mail. prefer to pay in Sterling may find it more All paymenu must be in Sterlins. convenient to obtain this publication from Ainn.il rates on request. the 'MM Bookshelf. UK price £4.65 in­ G C Arnold Partners, 9 Wetherby CION, cluding post and packing. Europe airmail Broadstone, Dorset BH18 8JB, England. Telephone 0202 658474 (elsewhere surface) £4.85. See page 36 of Forasampltcopy,Stnd ~rrl~' ::El this issue for further details. MM £3.00 or a US$5 bill ~~ 23 Sliaumse

Fealuring keys and other collectors' items of telegraphic interest. If anyone can add to the information given please contact TS

Unknown key, obtained from Yugoslavia. No markirr;s. Dimensions are idenUcal to Key WT 8 Amp. but knob is a/LlTlilium painted black. Further ilkJnnation requested ~: DavkI Couch VKBWT

Clapp-Eastham Co. Boston key. Introduced 1915 wffh a mafble base and German silver-fiated workirr; parts. Every amateur's cteam key at that time. See 'The Story of the Key'. MM11. p.31 Collection: John Elwood WlGAQ 24 9rf9rf23 ERion Brothers Ud, about 1890. Very similar to GPO standard key Photo by Chuck Brydges W4WXZ

RAF Ught-signaJ/ing key. Long-time devotees ofMM may recall seeing Murray Willer's 'Switchbox Identification No 2, Mark IIf on the cover of MM14. Reader Alex Vilensky, in Israel, has sent this photo of his o~ key which he 'purchased long ago in the flea marker. In the absence of any Mark Number it is {Xesumably the Mk I Photo by Alex Vilensky 4X 1M1 f).{f).{23 25 HE ITALIAN INVENTOR, The Alum Bay station, in the grounds Guglielmo Marconi (1874- of the Needles Hotel, transmitted signals 1937), unable to exploit his first to a tug in Alum Bay and later to a system of wireless telegraphy commer­ fixed receiver at Madeira House, South cially in his native country, brought Cliff, Bournemouth. These stations were his apparatus to Great Britain in Febru­ equipped with the conventional radio ap­ ary 1896 and demonstrated it to the paratus of the period. The transmitter was engineer-in-chief of a spark-gap in the the Post Office, secondary circuit of W.H. Preece, in an induction coil, July of that year. In Marconi and the connected directly April 1897 he was to a vertical aerial approached by a Isle of Wight 120 feet high. 1be group of financiers, Three Experimental Stations detecting element of led by his cousin, by RolIRI F. Pocock the receiv~ was a Henry Jameson­ 'coherer', a glass Davies, with an tube containing offer to form a metal filings. The company for the development and resistance of this coherer was reduced by exploitation of his inventions. Mter con­ a radio wave; it was connected in the siderable discussion, he accepted their receiver aerial circuit and the current offer, and the Wireless Telegraph & changes consequent on its resistance Signal Company (now the Marconi changes were used. via a relay, to actuate Company Ltd) was formed on 22 July a Morse printer. 1be apparatus was gener­ 1897. Marconi made over his patents to ally similar to that which had already the exclusive use of the new company, been used in experiments on the main­ and in return received a cash payment land, but with a simplified transmitter that of £15000, together with 60 per cent appears to have been based on the equip­ of the ordinary shares and a controlling ment designed by W.H. Preece for radio vote on the board of directors; he was experiments at Dover in September 1897. now obliged to sever his links with the Marconi's choice of Alum Bay for his General Post Office. first independent station was probably 1be new Company's first station was prompted by three considerations: it pro­ built at Alum Bay, in the Isle of Wight, vided an open length of water to the main­ and started transmission on 6 December land approximately equal to the maximum 1897. From 1897 to 1901 Marconi's range of a transmitter of the period, it experiments were mainly carried out at was reasonably remote from large centres various stations established on the island, of population, where interference from which was thus the true birthplace of tramways and other electrical equipment the commercial radio industry. had already been experienced, and there 26 MM23 was a convenient hotel to accommodate fringement of the monopoly when the himself and his staff. The site was not, Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company however, so remote that visitors could not supplied radio apparatus to a Dublin reach the station, and during the spring of newspaper office in order to report the 1898 Marconi received both the Tennys­ results of the yacht races at Kingstown on family (from nearby Farringford) and (Dun Laoghaire). the eminent physicist Lord Kelvin. The A second set of equipment was in­ latter used the Marconi apparatus to send stalled on the island in August 1898, con­ telegrams of greeting to W.H. Preece and structed to the order of Queen Victoria to Sir George Stokes; as he insisted on herself. This was to enable the Queen to paying for each message, these were the keep in contact with her son, the Prince first commercial radio-telegrams to be of Wales, who was at that time spending transmitted. This was a gesture of confi­ a period of convalescence on the royal dence on Kelvin's part - for he had been yacht Osborne. severely critical of Marconi's The transmitter and receiver of the proposals in 1896 and its signifi­ land station were set up in the grounds cance was not lost on the Italian of Osborne House. The Royal Yacht was inventor. But it caused Marconi usually moored in Cowes Bay, close to, to break the law, for by accept­ but out of sight of, the grounds of ing the fee he had defied the GPO Osborne, but the apparatus remained in monopoly of telegraph services use during several sea cruises off the coast inside the United Kingdom and of the island Marconi himself was invited its territorial waters. The Post on board for some of these trips, and on Office took no action, regarding August 12 he observed that the signals the payment as being a volun­ from Osborne House were received when tary gift by Lord Kelvin to help the yacht was three miles off the Needles, finance a scientific experiment; a range of eighteen miles of which four- it did, however, send a letter warning about the risks of in-

Marconi's station at the Royal Needles Hotel, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight. Sketch by Donna WOOclock and alter ST. You, at Brownborough, send your the hands as necessary as soon as you callsign - BN - and follow it immediately can. It may also be your duty to let other with the prefix of your message. (You will people know when the signal-comes. learn a little later that the urgency of a Where there is a bell-push in the message is denoted by its prefix.) office for operating a bell on the station If the operator at the other end is platforms, it is the usual custom to keep it ready he gives 'T' ~d you go on with the depressed during the whole of the time rest of the message, word by word. After that the needle is over to the left. Immedi- MM23 35 ately the time signal comes the bell-push does not help a bit to start tinkering with is released, the platform bell stops ringing, it In fact, it may make things worse. So and the station master or other person in send at once for the Telegraph Lineman, charge, with an eye on the clock, notes whose name and station should be record­ what time it tells. ed for reference. You can do this by, per­ If you have to pass the signal along a haps, getting a message along the signal telephone circuit or circuits, you send ten box telephone circuits or even by sending short rings, the first when the signal is an Urgent Train Message on the next given. available train. Repairs are part of the Lineman's When Things Go Wrong everyday job, and he'U do them weU when So high is the standard of mainten­ he comes. ance that single-needle instruments rarely fail. If they do, it is sometimes a serious Extracts from the LNER booklet Let's matter, especially if traffic communica­ send a message by the Single Needle are tions are held up. printed by lcind permission of the British If your instrument 'goes wrong', it Railways Board.

'By popular tfematu{! Binders for Morsu11J RadIo Art by Rob«t 1M ... gV[agnifiCat A fascinating 'coffee-table' book describing the evolution of the wiIclcss sct, with special Each binder holds eight issues, reference to cabinet design and the social and safely retained by strong wires. psychological inftuc:nccs which have shaped its Price £5.20 each to UK addresses fonn and colour &om the earliest 'bird's-nests' (inc. VAT), or overseas by and 'breadboard,' to the present day. Full of . surface mail. glorious colour photos of wiIcless sets &om the 19205 to the 90s, including some rare and Prices include post and packing. unusual ones. (RBI6) Send your cheque or postal order, 128pp, 11.75 x 9i11, hardback £17.50 (UK): £18.00 (Eur/Sur) or credit card details to: Radio Art Postcards by Robert H.... G C Arnold Partners, A selection of 30 colour photos from Radio Arl, 9 Wetherby Close, Broadstone, easily removed for display or to post to your Dorset BH18 8JB, England friends. (RBI5) 6.125 x4.J25in,paptrbaclr. CNerse85 payments must be in Sterling £3.50 Inc. VAT (UK): £3.50 (EurISur) See page 37 for how to order 36 9tf:M23 Vlbroplex Pocket Reference by Tom French Indispensable for identifying and dating the many models of the Vibroplex bugs. 6 pages, 3. 7 ~ 6.5in,folder A mail order book service for selected telegra­ £1.25 (UK): £1.55 (Eur/Sur) phy and radio titles. The letters MM or RB fol­ Railroad Telegrapher', Handbook Tom lowed by a number after each description indicate by the magazine and issue in which a review ap- French (American Mor.. Series) peared. lllustrations oflandline telegraph equipment, list­ ings of train order rules, and ads from early The prices quoted for each title are inclusive of telegraphers' magazines. Everything you need to postage and packing, the first figure being for know to become a railroad telegrapher. (MM22) despatch to UK addresses, the second for des­ 60 pages, 7 ~ 8.5in, softcover, saddIewire bound patch to the rest of Europe by airmail or else­ U.45 (UK): £6.75 (EurlSur) where in the world by surface mail. Ainnail rates for the rest of the world on request, or if you are Ma~Key Blue Book by Tom French using your aedit card we can ship by air at your If you're interested in the bugs made by Ted instruction, simply adding the difference in post­ McElroy (Mac-Keys), bring this booklet along al cost to your bill. to all the hamfests and Ilea markets. Authorita­ SEND YOUR ORDER TO: tive, illustrated, super-informative. 16 pages, 5.5 x 8.5in, paperbacJc, saddlewire G C Arnold Partners, 9 Wetherby Oose, bowui £3.15 (UK): £3.40 (EurlSur) Broadstone, Dorset BH18 81B, England, Keys, Keys, K.ys by DrI./nv-n K4TWJ marleing 1M enwlope 'MM Bookshelf . The 'key story' from the 1800s right up to the Payment QCctpUd by Access, EIITocard. Master­ present day. Covering hand keys, 'bugs' and card or Visa (quote your card 1IWI'Iber aNi expi­ automatics, military keys, horne-made key., ry dale). or by clteqllit, dr~ or postal oriUrs. unusual and rare keys, plus restoration, with an OverRas clteqllU a1Id drc(ts must be payable in average of around 2 photographs perpage. (RBI3) Sterling, a1Id drawn 011 a London Clearing BanJc. 102 pages, 7 ~ 1Oin, paperbQCk MIIk6 dUflU., IIc., JNlJtIbU to U.55 (UK): U.95 (EurlSur) G C Anwld PtJrlIJen. Hat Racal Handboek Compiled by a Racal enthusiast in Holland, with copies of the original manufacturer's technical introduction 10 Key Collecting by Tom French publicity leaJ\cts for a wide range of receivers, What to look for, where to find them. .. with transmitters, etc. About one third of the material photos and original ads, from ordinary keys to is in Dutch, and the rest in English. An essential rare models. Help you build a superior collec­ reference work for the Racal collector. (RBI4) tion while avoiding commoo mistakes. (MM17) 102 pages, 8.25 ~ 1l.75in,paperback 64 pages, 7 ~ 8.5in. sojtcover, saddIewire bowui £12.50 (UK): £13.00 (EurlSur) U.45 (UK): U.75 (EurlSur) OlC - a Seagoing Radio Officer's Scrapbook Vlbropltx Collector', Guide by Tom French The author's experiences sailing the world on Chapters on identifying the puU of a bug and on British and US Flag merchant ships. It also ex­ distinguishing the seven 'look-alike' Vibroplex plores the arguments for and against the with­ bugs. Methods of adjustment Complete text and drawal of the seagoing RIO and the SOOkcls watch drawings of all major Vibroplex patents(MM17) and distress organisation. (MM17, RB7) 87 pages, 8.5 ~ IIin, so{tcover, perfect bowui 376 pages, 9 ~ 6in £9.65 (UK): £IU5 (EurISur) Hardback £11.00 (UK): £11.50 (Eur/Sur) Bumlil', La,t Catalog (wIth commentary) by Paperback £8.00 (UK): £9.00 (EurISur) Tom French (American Mor.. Series) The 1965 catalogue of1.H. Bunnell & Company, manufacturer of keys, sounders, etc., abridged from the 1918 catalogue, plus a commentary and See opposite page for a 1918/1965 price list (MM23) 36 pages, 5.5 ~ 8.5in, softcover, saddlewire bound news of two new titUs £4.65 (UK): £4.85 (Eur/Sur) MM23 37 ,..... Il N ARTICLE IN A RECENT cellist with a well-known orchestra who ISSUE of MM on Amateur was off work with cellist's wrist (some- Morse tests caused me to thing like tennis elbow I think) and the old think of the time when I was Station Man- fellow who rang me up to see if he could ager at Portpatrick Radio/GPK, and held come at short notice. the power of pass or fail. He was an Englishman living in Indo- Not long after moving to Portpatrick a nesia who was on holiday in the old coun- test application try and wanted to get form, duly affixed M D a British callsign. with the correct y ays as an After the test he gave number of postage me his business card stamps, arrived Amateur NIorse and told me to call through the post At Examl-ner in any time I was in that time, for some Jakarta. Then there reason best known w~ the owner of a to those in authori- by Brian Faulcner sweet factory, teach- ty, this was the way ers, schoolboys, the test was paid for. doctors, AA men Having recently been promoted, this was and the unemployed. Many came and went one of the moments I had dreaded, having but they all had one thing in common; had no training in how to conduct the test they were scared stiff. My wife could nev- While rummaging through a filing cab- er get over this. 'It's only a hobby', she'd inet one day I had found a dog-eared fold- say. er marked AMA1EUR MORSE JEST The majority of people were of a stand- containing several sheets of what turned ant to pass the test with no problems. They out to be test papers together with the knew it and so did I, but put them at a desk ... obligatory forms to fill in when it was all with a blank piece of paper and a Morse over. The examinee arrived on the said key and they became gibbering wrecks. I day at the appointed hour, I don't know tried many ways of making them relax. who was the more nervous but between us Some I showed around the station, some we managed. He went away happy and I had to go outside for fresh air, some need- decided that I really needed to get a more ed coffee or something stronger and one accurate way of calculating 12 wpm than or two were physically sick, but somehow glancing at my watch. After that things or other I managed to coax or cajole most didn't go too badly. of them to at least take the test, even if they failed. Scared Stiff Once they reached the stage of actual- I never ceased to be amazed at the age ly sitting down I tried to lull them into a and range of people who came to take the false sense of security. On the pretext of test Some I remember quite well, like the giving myself some practice (as I did not 38 send Morse regularly), I suggested that way he was going to pass that day. the examinee might like to jot down what It turned out that he lived in a very remote I sent. At the end of this I had sent all parts area and had no contact with other ama­ of the test and I'd say 'How was that?' teurs. I was able to give him some ad­ Almost invariably they would have got it dresses and a few months later he came all and the look of relief when I suggested back and passed. that we might as well call it quits, and take Only once did a husband and wife take that effort as the exam, was a joy to see. the test at the same time. Both were in It did backfire at least once. I was good spirits but the wife passed and the busily sending away when, out of the cor­ husband failed. I was glad I wasn't in their ner of my eye, I could car going home that see that the fellow was night. A month later not writing anything the husband was back down. I stopped and for a second try asked how he was get­ but failed again. ting on, to which he One of the more replied 'OK, no trou­ interesting episodes ble at all'. He was occurred when an old reading it in his head man of 96 came with and it turned out that a young lad. After the he was an ex-seagoing lad had taken the test I Radio Officer. chatted to the old boy Some would nev­ and it turned out that er pass in a month of he had been a Radio Sundays but you could Officer before and dur­ tell these people the moment they started ing the first world war, shipwrecked three sending although it didn't stop them plead­ times, who later worked for the ing for 'Just one more go!' Post Office. When I showed him some photographs of equipment from the 1921 NoSpaces period, his eyes lit up and he cheerfully One fellow turned up and had no prob­ told me he had actually used it, describing lem receiving my Morse. The only trouble what each part did. was he didn't leave any spaces between Unfortunately there was the odd occa­ the words; it was one long line of letters. sion when you'd get a 'try-on' merchant. He made no mistakes and told me that he These were the ones who, for some rea­ had taught himself using a tutor giving son, couldn't or wouldn't learn Morse but random letters and had never taken plain who thought if they pleaded"illness or a language. disability they would get some sort of spe­ The next bombshell came when he cial treatment. One of these jokers even said that no-one had ever listened to his told me he was dying, although I know he sending. This, I'm afraid, was blatantly was still with us several years later and I obvious and unfortunately there was no learnt that he had never been ill in his life. MM23 39 ChindiJ Memories elling quite long distances to take the test On the other hand there were those rather than go to a ship inspection office who were genuinely ill who had stuck at it which might only take the tests on certain for months and finally felt able to take the days, and where several people might be test In exceptional circumstances we were taken at the same time. They felt that we allowed to go to the person 's home and I were perhaps more friendly and the whole remember making a round trip of some experience a little less nerve-racking. 160 miles to an elderly man who fascinat­ That's not to say that occasionally we did ed me with stories of his days in the Far not get parties. East with the Chindits, who promptly burst into tears when I told him he had passed. All Doctors Another time I made a similar trip to a One such group came over from man who was obviously very ill. He was Northern Ireland on a day trip. TIlere were cheerful enough and passed the test with nine of them, all hospital doctors, and my flying colours but died two weeks later. office, the only room in the building His wife told me that the only thing that suitable for taking the test, was really kept him going was his determination to only big enough to take one at a time. pass the test and once that had been However, on this occasion I managed three achieved he went quickly downhill. at one go; one had the luxury of a spare desk, one leant on the window sill and the On/ya Jo/ce other perched paper OIl his knee. TIley all TIlere were funny moments too, like passed, leaving immediately to get the the time a terrified driving test examiner ferry back so that they would not be late arrived. He told me afterwards that he for duty that afternoon. would feel a lot more sympathy for his Unfortunately testing was a time­ own 'victims' from then on. A colleague consuming process and the fee received of mine with a dry sense of humour was for each test came nowhere near covering once asked by an examinee how much outgoings. It was therefore no surprise the fee was. 'Ten pounds for a fail, twenty when British Telecom evenblally lost out for a pass' came the reply, at which point to the RSGB who now administer the £5 notes came flying out of pockets and Amateur Morse test on behalf of the DTI. it took some time to convince him that it was a joke. Brian Faulkner is Station Manager Coast stations used to get people trav- of Lantf s End RodioIGW.

FlSTS CW Club - The International Morse Preservation Society Aims to further the use of CW on the amateur bands, to encourage newcomers in the CW mode and to engender friendship within the mem­ bership. Open to all amateur CW operators and listeners, irrespective of speed and ability. Write to the Club Secretary, Geo. Longden G3ZQS, 119 Cemetery Road, Darwen, Lancs BB3 2LZ,for further information.

40 %%23 Mini MM Key-Meet The key which took my fancy was one Last December I had the great pleasure of made by Pye, described and pictured in visiting two MM readers, Tom Luxmore 'Showcase', MM18, p.27. 10 addition to G3A WL and Lee Grant G3XNG, both of being absolutely beautiful, it was smaller whom have interesting key collections. than I had imagined it, being a little small­ First I visited Tom in Easington, some er than the P.O. 1056A (base size about 6 thirty miles from my home, where he x 3 inches). Another interesting feature, showed and demonstrated some of his not apparent from the picture, is its narrow keys, ranging from Speedex, Vibroplex, arm, a little less than ~ inch wide. and the RAP Type D, to a little beauty Other keys looked at in detail included marked PS5785A, with each key having a Canadian key from the Wireless Set No. its own story to tell. We then travelled 48 (front cover MMI8); a Marconi 365 north together to Morpeth where Lee and (inside back cover MMI7); two RAP Margaret enta1ained us to a special lunch. Type D keys; several Swedish style keys A detailed and leisurely look at Lee's (Naval, and one made by ITI); and a vari­ collection opened up areas of speculation ety of Junkers and German WWII keys. and debate. For me the creme de La creme Unfortunately, time did not permit us was a sensitively restored Post Office to examine in detail Lee's substantial Double Current key (sometimes referred collection of semi-automatic and other to as a Silvertown key or a 9401) similar keys but as I headed horne I was able to to the one displayed on the front cover of reflect with great satisfaction on what had MM17. been a very special day. One key, the Westclox 'No.9 Key Jim Lycett GOMSZ, Darlington, and Plug assembly', once again revealed County Durham the large variety in design derived from the humble WT 8 AMP key. Unlike other Cover Key Japanese versions the arm and two bridges are The key shown on the front cover ofMM22 formed from sheet metal and, perhaps most is a Japanese Navy key, c.I944. On mine, importantly, there are four symmetrical the translation of the label is: comer holes in the base for securing the 'No. 2455. key in the assembly. This contrasts with Made in the 19th year af~ ShOwa. other keys fitted into the No.9 Assembly DAIKO DENKI COMPANY LIMITED which have the back right hole brought FACTORIES' . forward to clear the cord anchorage. Also This one is the smaller of two similar unusual was the case, complete with knee patterns. straps, which was well rounded with no David Couch, Wembley, sharp corners. Western Australia MM23 41 Early German Wireless about by Round, at his D/F station on the German military equipment in WWI had east coast, noting a slight difference of quite a modem look and the transmitters location of the German High Seas Fleet used in their battle cruisers, etc., would, A little known fact is that he intercepted in appearance, be quite at home in any the 'Z' senders. These transmitters were transmitting station today. Their U-boats located up in the fighting top up the main carried spark and CW transmitters and mast They used a spark frequency of were capable of sending back to Gennany 2000 against the usual German one of from off the US coast 1000, allowing them to be used at the The Battle of Jutland was brought same time as the main transmitters, locat-

NATO Navy Key The Morse key referred to by Colin (Colin Waters has established from WatersG3TSSinR~ers' Ads(MM21, £amerholm Fleming Ltd, successors to p.19), was manufactured by Fleming Fleming Instruments Ltd, that following Insb'Uments Ltd, of Caxton Way, Steve­ takeover by the present company ten nage, Herts. years ago. production of Morse tele­ I first saw and handled this key on graph keys was discontinued and all the Royal Navy stand at the last Radio documentation relating to this product and Television Exhibition held at Earls was destroyed. Court, London, in 1968. My understand­ Colin has also established that keys ing was that the key was made to a of this type marked IMR. were made NA10 specification, copied from an by International Marine Radio. He is East Gennan design, and was standard still trying to establish the meaning of fit for NA10 navies, mobile and shore P E.s. on other keys. He believes that stations, from the late sixties until the the contractor has either the initials demise of WIf over recent years. P EHL. or P B.S. If anyone can help I have one of the original keys, please contact Colin or MM. - Ed.) produced in 1969, which comes out of mothballs on SKD occasions. The numbers on my key are the same as those mentioned by G3TSS (5805-99-580- 8558) but the spoce for add­ ing an individual serial number is blank.

Brian Payne G4ClY, ~ High Wycombe, Bucks L-______~~ NA TO key 5805-99-580-8558

42 MM23 ed well out of hann' s way down below the 'schoolboy English' into fluent English! annourbelt Incidentally, an article on the Nauen These Z senders were used for inter­ station is scheduled to be published in ship communication when in formation, Radio Bygones in the near future. -Ed.) etc. They were of quite low power and used frequencies around Top Band, which Chinese Puzzle Solved speaks well for Round's D/F receivers What was the Chinese telegraphist doing? (2 triode RF stages, crystal detector, and (Letter from Olive 1. Roeckner VE7ERA, audio). MM22, p.47). He was operating a two­ The main German station, at Nauen, stick punch such as I myself operated when started life with a modest 12kW or so, stationed for a brief period at Marconi developing by the end of the war into a House, London, some seventy years ago. 750kW sender - 750kW of quenched The device consisted of three parallel spark! It was intercepted here in Australia metal bars (keys) with a tape running and also in New Zealand, and the famous through them; the operator held a rubber­ German raider Emden copied it when well tipped metal punch in each hand with down the Indian Ocean. My guess is that which he struck the keys as appropriate. they had on board one of the top-secret Striking the left hand key punched a dot, valved receivers which had RF stages, the right hand key a dash and the centre but I have never been able to verify this. key a space. Yecy little is known in the UK about In addition the struck key moved the German wireless in WWI, or WWII for tape the appropriate distance, i.e., one unit that matter. It's fascinating and puts things for a dot, three for a dash and (I think) two in their true perspective when you learn for a space. At Marconi House we ran the the facts. I'd love to have got hold of one punched tape through a transmitter which receiver they used in WWII, for curiosity on the busy London to Paris link operated value if nothing else. This used an 11- at four hundred words per minute! gang tuning condenser! Jack Syus G3SRK, Slailhewaite, I have a German friend here in Yorkshire. (Age 90) Australia who was in signals in the war. Pre-war they went on 'schemes', as did Readers ADs Work World-wide I our forces, and they used to send CW in In response to my request for help with the broadcast band. As he says, it was fun my 'MaN-KEY', c.1950, in 'Readers trying to copy through the BC QRM. Ads', MM21, I had one reply. This was Norman Burton, from G6CJ who very kindly sent me 4 Revesby, New South Wales new valves as a gift. (MM would very much welcome memo­ David Couch VK6WT, ries, information or articles from our Wembley, Western Australia German readers about their experiences or the equipment they used in the past. If call the Novices Please you thinic your English is 'not good enough' I am the Novice Manager for the G-QRP don't worry! We are expert in converting Club in which just about 90 per cent of %%23 43 Lorenz Style Key - British Ref! Judging from the style of cover and cranked insulated arm with the typical German concave knob, the Lorenz key illustrated on the inside back cover of MM20 is similar to a key I obtained from a British surplus dealer. The key Photo: ZA 54574 key from REME stores (UK). was accompanied by a Ministry of Compare this with the photo in MM20 Defence release note dated 1974, from REME stores Donnington, and is 3* x 2Y4 x 1Y2 inches high, with the simply described as MORSE KEY, arm/knob protruding from the cover a part No. ZA 54574. Could it be that further 2 inches. My cover has two slots they were having a WWII captured at the back for the wires while the Lorenz items clear-out? photo shows side exits. Nevertheless The arm is of fairly thick pressed both mouldings, complete with small steel similar in shape to the American skirt, are very similar. Unlike the Lorenz 138 or J41 keys but having a robust key, however, neither the key nor its appearance like that of the Junker. It cover carry any identification marks. has micrometer screw thread adjusters Jim Lycett GOMSZ, and pin and cup type bearings. The fixed Darlington, County DuriuJm contacts (front and rear) are attached to pieces of flat spring material, cantilever (Can any readers. in Germany or else­ mounted to give silent soft touch opera­ where. provide further information? Is tion. this perhaps a standard design military The unusual feature about the key is key mtUlufactured with slight variations that it has appalling push-lock terminals by different maUrs? Can anyone ex­ similar to the type currently available plain how a German lrey was apparent­ in Tandy stores. The overall size of ly held in. and released from. British the cover (brown Bakelite moulding) Army stores? -Ed.)

our operation is in Morse. For overseas hands-on training by an RSGB registered readers who may not know about it, can instructor, the Novice acquires a callsign I explain that the UK now has a Novice with the prefix 2 followed by E, W, M, J, licence aimed mainly, but not exclusively, U or I designating his or her regional at the younger age group, which permits location. For example 2WOAAI is located operation with low power on designated in Wales. The 0 signifies an HF and VHF frequencies. licence (Morse test 5 wpm) and a I is After undergoing a short period of for VHF only. 44 My role is to help or advise Novice the members, given the choice, opted to members of the club on such matters as continue with the experimental fonnal antennas, Morse, and choice and con­ Four weeks before the test date, we SbUction of projects, and I am privileged reverted to strict test format and a speed to have around 3500 active QRPers to check showed that class members were call on if I get into difficulty myself! receiving at 15 wpm with figures and 16 All CW operators, whether low power wpm with plain language. They also dis­ or not, are asked to listen and call covered how boring unpunctuated plain occasionally on 3.570,21.130,28.130 or language and blocks of figures can be! 28.360MHz for the UK Novices. A good It would appear that change may be in long slow call on 3.570MHz ± usually the pipeline. It is so much more enjoyable does the trick! for learners to send and receive in this Dave Gosling GONEZ, fonnat that we shall continue our courses Hemel Hempstead, HeTts. for both the Novice and the full test 'in parallel' until further instructions are Trial Period received regarding the fonnat of the I was interested in Roy Clayton's refer­ 12 wpm test. ence to a trial period for the QSO fonnat Ivan Sharlcey GOCNZ, of the new Novice Morse test, and the Gateshead, Tyne & Wear possibility that the same format could be used for the full 12 wpm test (MM21, CNIn Russia p.31). I would like to tell readers of MM some­ At the end of 1990 my club, the Hazel­ thing about CW operating in my country. rigg ARC, in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, in For a long time, the USSR was a 'mili­ organising the new Novice 5 wpm course, tary' state and a lot of money was spent decided to use the new format for the for military pwposes. Many special schools 12 wpm class as well. This was because were opened where you could be trained a lot of time was taken after the 12 wpm (absolutely free) for any technical special­ test introducing CW procedures, abbrevi­ ity, including radio operating and Morse ations, simulated QSOs and punctuated code, in preparation for anny service. plain language to those interested. All young men reaching 18 years of We use the (RSGB) Margaret Mills age had to serve in the anny for two years course as standard and I have extended and most of the future soldiers wanted to each lesson to include mixed figures and be radio operators as they much preferred letters in the form of random callsigns, to sit in a wann shack rather than crawl both UK and foreign, including the ob­ in the snow with a gun! That's why there lique stroke or slash 'r and all the figures are so many high-speed CW signals 1 to 0; and each lesson ends with fully from Russia with rude habits (such as not punctuated texts, including figures. asking QRL? before using a frequency) We tried this idea on our 199112 wpm picked up in the anny! Nevertheless, many Morse class and after one month at the Russians are very skilful on the key. club, and regular practice on 2 metres, There are four classes of licence over %%23 45 Specialised Knobs Musing about key-knobs recently, I Suffering from rheumatism, my thought 'if my fingers are in the "right" friend also developed a horizontal bar position I must surely send perfect code knob and then a 'slope' knob (see photo - or at least, it should help! Why not 2). You hold this one like a pen and it have a knob adapted and designed to seems to be tireless. The key is made suit my fingers so that when keying they from an old relay and in the absence of a are in a normal, not stressed, position?' key-lever the free movement is quite My friend F6EQC did the develop­ surprising at first Mter a while, howev­ ment work and discovered that the er, it works very well and it could be fingers, mainly the forefinger and thumb, perfect for mobile operation. need some slight freedom of movement I wonder if any other readers of MM during long traffic. He designed and have developed their own special­ made a special knob (see photo 1) to purpose key knobs? meet these needs and I call this the V­ Dominique Bourcart FDIOEB, knob. It is very comfortable in use! Poix-Te"on, France

1. V-ltnob by F6EOC 2. SIope·knob by F6EOC here. The 4th class is for novices on 160 Bug User Group and 10m, QRP, with no knowledge of In answer to the query from Jon Hanson CW required. For HF operation, like the (Readers' Ads, MM21, p.19) the Bug User UK, we have to pass a Morse test at about Group was founded on 11 November 12 wpm. Very few amateurs here can speak 1987 by seven East German amateurs, all English but they do want to work foreign enthusiastic users of old semi-automatic stations. This is easy on CW where all you keys. As at 16 April 1990 there were 12 have to know is just a few codes. members, including myself. Andy Troubachov UAJPlP, We had weekly skeds on Fridays at Tufa, Russia 1930loca1 time on 3.555MHz±, but events 46 !M:M23 in the former East Germany caused the pounding a key or a typewriter. skeds to cease. I talked to BUG member It is essential when learning Morse to DLlHQH (previously Y62QH) recently learn both receiving and sending simulta­ and the skeds will probably start again neously. As any educator knows, the more soon although I am not sure if they will be ways a subject impinges on the pupil's on the same day and time as previously. senses the better the learning process. The latest information can be obtained over When I started learning, my Morse the air from DL2HQH who is very active. instructor would send to me, and would I agree with Jon Hanson's suggestion announce the name of the signal he was that more bugs are being used on the sending. I was then required to vocalise it amateur bands. I can well understand this while he sent it again. Then he would send - the sound of a well-opecated bug is the while I wrote down what I was receiving. sound of a sweet melody!! It is much I then took my place at the key to send to nicer, and has much more 'style' than him, naming the lettm, etc., as I sent them. any electronic keyer. Since 1989 I have By this method the sounds and rhythms w

DOES ANY READER know about makers, A.M.C., C.E.L., Clipsal, H & C, 'Bunnese Morse'? Ted Jones G3EUE has LMK, N.C. Co., Pye, and T.B. & S., found a reference to its use on the Indian if anyone can help? Railways when messages were sent in a Also, what is the meaning of the mixture of 'English' and 'Bunnese' Morse, circled C usually shown above or below with each change of code prefixed by a the ZA reference number?; the letter 'N' string of dots. I will be pleased to hear sometimes stamped on the arm of a key?; from anyone who can provide further in­ and 'PX'?; and what type of equipment formation on this intriguing system. was used with the Unit Operator No.1; Key & Plug Assembly No. 19, Key & TransltJlion Neethd Plug Assembly No.8, and Key & Plug Can anyone help with some transla­ Assembly No. 61 tions from French to English please? Finally, does anyone have a copy I have some interesting material on file (or copies) of the specification for the with English summaries but would like Key WT 8 Amp in any of its versions? some help in expanding these before publication in MM. CMOS Super Keyer II Ha<; anyone got one of these intriguing KeySuney keyers as described in November 1990 The survey of Keys WT 8 Amp is QST and the 1992 ARRL Handbook/or going well and so far I have identified Radio Amateurs, either in its kit version or nearly 60 versions made in six different ready-made as the Logikey K-l or Logikey countries. Many readers have already K-l version 2? written to me, but if you have one (or a If so, please send me details and let dozen!) of these keys and have not yet me know how it pelforms. If more than sent me details please contact me for a one report is received this will help to survey form. build up a composite review to appear in As part of the survey, I am trying to MM at the earliest opportunity. ascertain the full name (and/or original address or location) of the following 73, Tony G4F AI

BACK ISSUES IN THE NEXT ISSUE Copies of Issues Nos. 19-22 are 'The Thin Red Line' still available, price £2.20 each to gy[orsum 'Why Farnsworth?' UK addresses, £2.25 overseas. 'Radio & Railway Morse in ALL OTHER ISSUES ARE 1{agnificat Canada' NOW our OF PRINT AND LOTS MORE!

48 PORTHCURNO TELEGRAPH MUSEUM.

Siphon Recouler Alph.bet.

KEl. VIN (MUIRHEAD l<>IPHON RECORDER with SAMPLE SIGNALS Saibo-1.tJrse: c.1920, by Graham & Latham Ud, l.Dndon SW10, for 'ra{id learning' of Morse. See MM19, p.18, for more details Co/IediorVPhoto: Tony Smith G4FAI