Numfier86 — Jufy 2003

01'5le111 166113

ISSN 0953-6426 £2. 75

TfleMorsefl/[agazine

gTOMfii’Q‘1 DoufifeCurrent Key

I I I I I I I IThe International Journal of Morse Telegraphy

CommentWell, the decision has been taken. The World Radio Conference, meeting inGeneva has amended Alticle 25 of the international Radio Regulations. From 5'“July 2003 it is no longer mandatory for individual radiocommunicationadministrations to require Morse code proficiency for the issue of an amateurradio license on frequencies below 30 MHz.

There remains a recommendation that a Morse test should be retained butit will be interesting to see how individual administrations react to this over thecoming months. Canada, for instance, has announced that the Morse examinationremains until all the regulatory changes at WRC-2003 have been reviewed.

Those of us who use Morse can continue to enjoy it. Let us hope that we canencourage newcomers to reap the rewards of a little effort in learning it.

Zyg Nilski, G30KD

Contents2 News14 Signallers‘ Camps by E. Geqffi'ey Walsh, GM4FH (SK)17 Morse Matters — Counterpoise/Spectrum Analysis/Paddle Key Dits by

Dr Gary Bold, ZLIAN23 MM Binders24 Showcase26 Evolution of the International Morse Code, Pan 1 by Tony Smith, G4FAI36 Info Please!38 MM Bookshelf40 The Western Electric 1A Telegraph Key by Ted Phelps, WSTP42 Your Letters47 Readers Ads

flldverts

10 The Radio Officers Association19 Fists CW Club — The International Morse Preservation Society23 Radio Bygones23 G-QRP Club46 Morse Enthusiasts Group, Scotland47 The A11 & Skill of Radio Telegraphy — by William G. Pierpont, NQHFFWEI/[86 «jité/ 2003 J

NewsWRC - 2003 Morse

Requirement Ends

The World RadiocommunicationConference (WRC-2003) held inGeneva. Switzerland between 9 Juneand 4 July 2003, has decided to dropthe Morse code examination as amandatory requirement for the radioamateur license.

No administration participat~ing in Sub-Working Group 4C3 spokein favour of retaining the Morse codetreaty requirement but Conference de-cided to keep Morse as a recommendedamateur qualification.

It would be up to the radioadministrations of individual countriesto decide whether or not they retain aMorse examination requirement.

Dropping of Morse testing wasone of a number of changes to Article25 of the Radio Regulations that willtake effect on Saturday, 5 July 2003although it may be some time beforethe intentions of individual countriesis known.

BAKOM, the SwissAmateur Radio licensing authority. will

2

issue a letter approximately the end ofJuly 2003. to all existing VHF/UHFSwiss Amateurs holding the CEPT-Z(VHF/UHF) license. granting them HFprivileges. Their existing call signswill remain in the HB9MAA - HB9ZZZrange.

HB3 licensees are a relativelynew special beginners (novice)category of Swiss VHF/UHF operators.who do NOT have reciprocal CEPTprivileges yet, and will NOT beadvanced to HF privileges under thenew system. It is an internal nationalSwiss license ONLY. After theBAKOM letter comes out. allsubsequent newly licensed Swisscallsigns will be in the HBQMAA —

HB9ZZZ range. The applicants willNOT take a Morse test. but will havefull HF privileges.

Plaque to Honour TitanicRadio Officer

The Radio Officers‘ Association havedonated a plaque to GodalmingMuseum in Surrey. to commemoratethe memory of Jack Phillips. the ChiefRadio Operator of RMS Titanic.

Mflvf86 - _’lu[y 2003

Jack Phillips is held in especialmemory in Godalming as he was bornnearby in Farncombe and after trainingworked as a telegraplrist in GodalmingPost Office. There are many tributes tohim in the town. He died of hypothermiain a lifeboat and his body was neverrecovered.

The plaque which will bedisplayed in the Museum by kindpermission of the Trustees will be oneother commemoration and a reminderof his impact on marine radio, in itsinfancy in 1912.

The experiences withradio on that fateful night were to leadto operating procedures which lastedfor the majority of the 20th Centurybefore automated methods took over.

The loss of the ‘Titanic' in 1912has generated many stories which havepassed into folk memory. Although theroles of the Radio Operators JackPhillips and Harold Bride do have theirmentions, perhaps their places in thetragedy have been overshadowed byother stories more easily understood inthe public mind.

The Radio Officers' Associationand the Godalnring Museum hope thatthe display of a plaque will draw publicattention to the heroic efforts made byJack Phillips in alerting other ships tothe disaster.

For marine Radio Officers, thesacrifice, devotion to duty and heroismof Jack Phillips and Harold Bride havebeen models for their own actions inother disasters, including armedconflicts where it has to be stressedthey were civilians in the 'front line'. Itwas also to lead to the convention thatMarge; 27115 2003

Radio Officers were the next to last toleave a sinking ship, only followed bythe Master.

The Radio Officers‘Association was established in 1997 aswhat might be stylised a ‘veterans’association‘ for those who have servedas Radio Officers in the Merchant Navy.

Of deep interest to theAssociation is the preservation ofartefacts and documentation relatingto the history of marineradiocommunication in the twentiethcentury.

The Association‘s Hon.Archivist has a large index of variouscollections. including its own holdingsand is often called upon to advisemuseums, film makers, genealogistsand others.

Marconi & GEC Archivesand Museum Closed

The role of Company Archivist and theservices provided have now ceased toexist as has access to the Marconi &GEC Archives and Museum.

Information on the history ofMarconi is still available at the website http://www.marconicalling.comand there is limited information on thehistory of GEC at www.marconi.com

Marconi is looking at the futureof its historical collections (TheMarconi Collection, GEC Archive,Elliott Collection) and the possibilitiesof new permanent honres to ensure theirfuture preservation and public access.(Information: Louise Jamison ex-Cmnpmzy Archivist Marconi pic)

3

HeliographDemonstration Event

Heliographs were demonstrated duringthe Folk Arts Fair at Sharlot HallMuseum in Prescott, Arizona. TheTrish Horn's local Girl Scout Troop159. were amongst the moreenthusiastic of participants

This is our 4th year of inclusionin the event. It is estimated that theheliographs (British, American and

it and it‘s Roman numerals. Then herelated the sundial to the heliograph(the sundial uses the sun to tell time;the heliograph uses the sun to sendmessages. and neither requiringwinding up nor replacement batteries:also having. in common that each onlywould work if the sun was shining.Grasping this concept was immediate.

They then pretended that wewere at Fort Whipple in Prescott(Station 1 on the 1890 map) underattack. and that the reflectorrepresented Bald Mountain (Station 2).Usually there is someone who knows

the Morse codefor SOS.

A l m o s t

everyone wasable to readand under-stand it with-out difficulty.An explana—tion was thengiven of theheliographsystem. as itexisted in1886 duringthe Geronimo

Portuguese on Saturday, British onlyon Sunday) were demonstrated to atleast a hundred or so people. A 4"

square white reflector is nowpermanently installed on a power poleon a hill about 200 yards distant t0 thenorth giving a brilliant reflected flash

The demonstration began withJim Riddle asking questions regardingthe adjacent sundial who knows whatthis is. how does it work, who can read

4

Campaign. and in 1890 when WhippleBarracks and Bald Mountain (nowGlassford Hill) were on line.

Copies of the Hg map wereavailable to anyone wanting one. andanyone wanting more information wasencouraged to signup for the Hg e—

mailing list and website. with 22 ofthem signing.{Information Jim Riddle, Prescott,Arizona)

MM86 — ]u[y 2003

The Ham Band CD

Some readers may not have comeacross ”The Ham Band” and their CDof amateur radio songs entitled “SeekYou”. They are sung and played ascountry music, recorded in Nashville,Tennessee. The songs can also be heardon—line at http:www.1astres.com/ajhuddle/hambandhtml

The composers and singers areAndrew Huddleston, OZlXJ/OZSE/G3WZZ and his wife Lissa Ladefoged.Morse enthusiasts might especially likethe song “It's Great to Q50 in MorseAgain” which includes:And then Gordon, G4ZPYBuilt me a key .so good it made me cryI'm up to speed againAnd everyone agreed againThat nzorse will never die

It's great to Q50 in morse againInstead of talking till I'm hoarse againI know I’m on my hobby-horse againBut its great to Q50 in morse again

Or how about the song “Alwayson the Air“ including the words:A morse-eode devoteeHe was an expert on the keyAt 40 words a minute, and sometimes fasterHe would while the hours awayWith some ham every dayAnd I could see that marriageHeading for disaste

Whilst not on Morse themethe song "Radio Widow” will strike achord with some readers. including thechorus:And I'm just a radio widowThe airwaves put my man in his tombYou won ’t see me cry‘Cause my baby didn’t dieHe's just buried in his radio roomMarge — Jury 2003

There are 14 songs in all on theCD.

1. INTRODUCTION7.. ON THEMONDAYEVENINGGREYLINE3. ALWAYSONTHEAIR4. I'M NOTCLIMBING UPTHETOWER ANY

MORE5. THERADIOWIDOW6. THECONTEST7. NOWIT‘S NIGHT8.1T'S GREATTOQSO IN MORSEAGAIN9. THE TRIPTO DAYTON10. ROTUMABOUND1 1. OUT INTOTHEWIDEBLUEYONDER12. SEVENTYTl-IREES13. WE'RE THE HAMBAND1-1. OUTTRODUCTION

It is available from AndrewHuddleston, Moellestien 53, DK8000Aarhus C, Denmark. The price is £12including postage to Europe and £13to the rest of the world. It can also beobtained in the USA, by phoning:1-800—721-4077

(Information: Kathy Stanfill andAndrew Huddleston. Lyrics by kindpermission of Andrew Huddleston ©)

I,"

Morse Key ConstructionCompetition

The Chelmsford Amateur Radio Societyrecently held a constructorscompetition and among the manyentries were some interesting Morsekeys.

Denis Lewis M3BIA produceda wonderfully crafted Morse key. Thecontacts on the key were from a spareset of points from an old Peugeot motorcar. Denis won the “First Time Entrant”prize.

Colin Page GQTRMconstmcted a pair of “Plug and Play"paddle type Morse keys using roundpin old style mains plugs, a 15 amp and

Above: Colin Page and his "Plugand Play key. Left Denis Lewis andhis home made key.

6 MM86 — ]u[y 2003

a more compact 5 amp type. They wereupturned on a wooden base and thepaddle, slotted into the earth pin was anail file which had a convenientinsulated plastic finger pad. This wasQuite ingenious on Colin‘s part, as theoriginal concept from an article inPractical Wireless used a piece ofhacksaw blade. The contacts are madefrom standard screws fitted with silverstuds. The cost of the nail files was£1.58 and all other parts were to hand.Time to make 2-3 days. He won 3rdprize.

Further information on theclub may be obtained from the SecretaryDavid Bradley MQBQC Tel: 01245602838 E-mail: lllf0@QOIII\VI.OI‘°.UKWebsite: www.a0mwt.org.uk(Iiiflirmation: Trevor, M5AKA)

NMC, KPH AND KFSReturn to the Air Using

Morse Code

For the first time since 12 July 1999listeners around the world were able tohear three historic US coast stations onthe air using Morse code.

On July lst, Coast GuardCommunications Area Master StationPacific (CAMSPAC), Pt Reyes retired

“Sparks"the historic from the

,wantaraaaes

91/[51/[86 — [7114/ 2003

Telecommunications SpecialistEnlisted Rating Badge, as the CoastGuard restructures its work forcereplacing that specialty with two others,the Operations Specialist and theInformation Technology Specialist.

As a special part of theceremony surrounding this changeNMC will returned to the air usingMorse code (CW).

The public were invited to visitNMC to participate in this event. Theunit's Receiver Site, located at 17000Sir Francis Drake Blvd on the Pt ReyesNational Seashore was open to thepublic.

KPH activated its HF and MFtransmitters to participate in thishistoric event and to give listeners theopportunity to hear three US coaststations on the air - possibly for the lasttime. KFS will also return to the air ona single frequency.

KPH transmitted on 6477.5,8642.0, 12808.5 and17016.5 on HF andon 500 and 426kc on MF. KFStransmitted on 17026.0kc. Thesefrequencies were made availablethrough the generous cooperation ofGlobe Wireless, the cun‘ent owner ofthe KPH and KFS licenses.

KPH and KFS operators willlistened for calls from ships on 6276.0,8368.0, 12552.0 and16736.0 on HFand 500kc on MF.(Information: Richard Dillman,W6AWO, Maritime Radio HistoricalSociety; http://www.radiomari/ze.org)

Photo/Collection:

Tom

Perera,

W1

TP

Telegraph Treasures inFilm

Telegraph items from Tom Perera‘scollection have been used recently in amajor motion picture called‘Paycheck‘, distributed by ParamountPictures.

The telegraph items used were

the Caton Register and the Caton Key.The story is about an electrical

engineer, Jennings (Affleck), who hasbeen working on a top secret projectfor two years wakes up one day todiscover that his employer has erasedthe parts of his memory concerning histop secret work.

Trying to collect his“paycheck", he discovers that insteadof a cash payment. he had agreed to

receive a

package ofseeminglymeaninglessobjectsinstead. As youcan perhapsguess, the CatonRegister andCaton keywill be includedin the ‘package‘.(Information :

Tom Pc’rcra)

Photo/Collection:

Tom

Perera,W1TP

Above: CatonKey. Right: CatonReister.

8MM86 -Ju@ 2003

Web Site CollectionUpdated

One hundred new photographs oftelegraph instruments have been addedto Fons Vanden Burghen’s pages. Theyare part of Greg Raven’s web site atwww.faradic.net/~gsraven/fons images/forts 1nuseum.lnml

The new photos are on pages 11

and 12.

Marconi Radio Club ofNewfoundland on LF

The Marconi Radio Club ofNewfoundland is promoting interest inlong wave low frequency work on 136kHz and breaking new ground on thelong waves by conducting experimentsaimed at assisting Radio Amateurs ofCanada (RAC) in acquiring a 136 kHzallocation and promoting interest inlow frequency work.

A proposal written by clubmember Joe Craig VOlNA wasendorsed by RAC and the proposal wasapproved by Industry Canada. Sincethen, a low frequencytransmitting station, the first on 2200metres in the Newfoundland andLabrador Section, has been on the airas MRCN members conducted variousexperiments including several cross—band contacts.

Signals from the station havebeen copied by WITAG near Boston:MM86 —j/u[y 2003

and by G3NYK in England. The latterwas the first transatlantic LFtransmission by a Newfoundlandamateur radio station. For furtherinformation, visit the MRCN web siteat http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~jcraig/mrcn.html(Information Radio Amateurs ofCanada)

The Life of a Radio OfficerTrilogy

There are three books recounting theexperiences of a Radio Officer in theBritish Merchant Navy between 1956and 1963. A keen photographer. theauthor. John Russell has taken theunusual step of printing and publishingthe books himself. in order to include agreater number of colour pictures thanwould otherwise be possible.

The first book records severalvisits to New Zealand on three differentships owned by the Shaw Savill &Albion Line and the New ZealandShipping Company Ltd.

The second tells the story oftwo very different tankers. The first isa three—month voyage on a T2 tankerdelivering refined fuel from Fawley tovarious U.K. ports. The rest of the bookdescribes a ten-month trip on a deep-sea tanker. under charter to BP,tramping around the world visiting anastonishing variety of ports.As in all these books the text is

9

copiously illustrated with colour photosfrom the author's own collection takenat the time, together with maps,diagrams and tickets.

The third and final partincludes voyages on four differentships to West Africa. North and SouthAmerica. Australia and Canada. Thereader is taken from the tropical heat ofthe Niger delta to the sub—zerotemperatures of the StLawrence inJanuary: from the delights of beach‘barbies‘ at Christmas in 02 to hugesteaks in Montevideo.

All books are profuselyillustrated with colour pictures selectedfrom the author‘s own collection takenat the time. together with maps.diagrams and visiting cards. There is aGlossary of technical terms. Kit Listand a list of Books for Further Reading.

For purchase informationcontact John Russell. 21. LandcrossDrive. Abington Vale. NorthamptonNN3 3LR UK. Telephone +44 (0) 1604636536 or e—mail:russell@landcrossfreeserve.co.uk

Battleship George Averoffon the Air

The museum war battleship GeorgeAveroff will be on the air on occasionof the Museum Ships Weekend event

on July 18/19/20. 2003 and July 25/26/27. 2003.

George Averoff is moored atFlisvos Piraeus in Greece. It was builtin 1909. took part in the Balkan wars.WWI and WWII. During WW II theship operated at Mediterranean Sea andIndian Ocean as part of the Greekcontribution (under British generalcommand).

Operations will take place fromthe original ships radio room. usingamateur radio equipment. The shipsoriginal eqipment has been out of orderfor a long time.

The modes of operation will beCW. SSB. some RTTY with sixoperators. using callsign SXlMBA. Aspecial QSL card has been print for theevent.

SXlMBA has been activated onair twice in the past. on July 1987 for 4days. and again July 1994 for threedays.(Iiifiirmmioiz: Yiorgos A. Gl‘aikos)

Drive, Northampton, NN33LR,

The Radio Officers AssociationMembership is open primarilyto former MN radioofficers but is alsoopentoanyonewhohas had an association with

maritimecommunicationsoris interested in the subject.Members receivethequarterly newsletterQSO and its associated

amateurcomponentQRZ. There is an annual reunion and AGM. 2003 seesthe meeting taking place in Newcastle‘

upon-Tyne. Forfurtherdetails and informationplease contactthe Membership Secretary -John Russell, 21 Landcross

10 iii/[M86 —,‘/u{z/ 2003

MARCONI STATION TO BE BUILT AT WHITLEY BAY

Whitley Bay has been selected for the erection of a Marconi station.The site decided upon is Promontary Point, which stretches out like a

horn from the brow of the Northumberland coast to form the crescent of cliffprotecting Cullercoats Bay on the north.

It is one of highest and outstanding points on the coast — an exposedand windswept promontory which is admirably adapted as a wirelesstelegraphy station.

The erections to be placed upon it will include a mast runningperpendicularly to a height of over 200 feet.

The mast will be of pitch pine, and with it will be connected thedelicate mechanism for receiving wireless messages.

The receiver will pass into a wooden building at the base — a stronglybuilt timber stmcture, with the beams bolted together, and with a diagonalflooring of pitch pine.

Messrs Douglas and Son, builders, of Cullercoats, have been entmstedwith this work.

(Information and photo: W. P. Jones - From The Shields Daily News,Monday, April 16, 1906)

Cul/ercoats circa 1919 - Note the wireless masts and but in the top right -hand cornerMil/[86 —,‘quy 2003 11

N THE SECONDAFGHANWAR in1878 Major General Roberts. laterLord Roberts, took possession of

Kabul and assumed the government.The Indian telegraph network had bythen extended into Afghanistan but onJanuary 61h 1879 the Viceroy wiredRoberts from Calcutta:

' I think the policy of running atelegraph line through an unsettledcountry is always questionable. It is analmost irresistible temptation tomischief and is subject to frequentintenuptions and entails large numbersof men & posts for its maintenance. I

should suggest its discontinuation.‘On September 1“ 1879 Roberts

Signallers’ Camps1879—1914

by E. Geoffrey WalshGM4FH(SK)

was in Simla. the hill station to whichthe government of India moved in thesummer to avoid the heat of the plains.He wired Massey in Afghanistan. asignallers' camp is shown in Figure 1:

Figure 1. Camp of 72” signal/ere at Sherpur in the SecondAfghan War. There are heliographs, flags andsignalling lamps but no sign of telegraphic equipment. Heliographs will have been the principal mode ofcommunication.

12 MM86 - Jury 2003

Figure 3. 1905. The 1“prize detachment at Shoebury Postcardfrom Jim to Miss J. Simmons. Jim’s sister.of 68. St Michael’s St. Fo/kestone, Posted in Dover Nov 1905. Jim is to the right of the SergeantMajor.

Figure 4. 1907. Postcardfrom Jim also to Miss J. Simmons. Postmark - Dover July 1907.

14 Mflf86 - yufy 2003

Evidently the men are having asingsong; there is a conceltina playerand to his right a tympanist is striking,perhaps a tin can, with a baton.

In 1914 there was anothertraining camp with 3rd Signal Coy REat Cheriton, near Alresford, Hants(Figure 6). Jim is in the front row on theleft side. On the ground are twotelegraphists. two telephonists and twoclerks. Standing on the right is a manwith a sledge hammer that will havebeen used to strike a sturdy iron spikeinto the ground to form a hole intowhich a telegraph pole will have beenplaced. Standing in the centre is asoldier with a pick, this would havebeen useful if the spike had to be driventhrough a road surface.

Extracts from Jim's Diary4th August, General mobilization.

5th August. with “L" Signal CoyRE at Emigrants Home, Southampton.Being equipped and awaiting boat forFrance.

Sunday 16th August. Loading”African Prince ” with tons of telegraphstores.

17th August 1914, LeftSouthampton on “African Prince"4.00am. Sleeping on a congested deck.Very hot. No room to walk about.Arrived off Le Havre about 4.00pm.Great excitement upon entering theharbour. Jetties crowded with Frenchpeople shouting “Heep! Heep!Hurrah!” Exchanging shouts of “Vivel’ Angleterre" and “Vive la France”Our troops trying to sing “LaMarsallaise." Sleeping on the stonefloor in goods shed and unloading theboat in shifts. September I“ 1914,moved to St. Nazaire we worked thro

Mmauve: at!» ‘5‘-

Figure 5. 1913Postcard— but not posted, with Jim is standing in the centre he andothers have a lanyardfora whistle which will be in the pocket.WW86 — July 2003 15

Figure 6. 1914. Postcard sent on June 12 1914, to Miss J. Simmons. The ’Fiag-time Army’.

the Brest Penzance cable over which Ispoke one day to Nic Heller in PenzanceP.0. Subsequently the traffic becametoo heavy for this cable so our peoplelaid a fresh cable from St. Nazaire outinto the Bay ofBiscay and spliced on toa German West Africa cable whichagain was connected to Londonfurtherup the English Channel

The entry in Jim's diary for l 1‘“

March 1915 reads:'Leaving Mamet: after a night

of muddle and excitement, loading upwagons etc. All signal squadronmounted on bicycles and cariying allkit. Feeling out of training for cyclingwith such a pack. Are we really goingto see some ofthe warat last! We go viaMarthes, Blesey, Estree, Blanche, Rely,Auch-au-Bois, Belleiy, Ferfay, Cauchy—a-la-Tour, and Auchel to Lozenghamwhere we find the corps have laid a

16

cable for us to the chateau grounds.Picking up the end of cable I can feelthe corps calling up “V-I-B" (our call)but we cannot answerfor another hourfor our transport has broken down andhad to be reloaded.’

As the fortunes of war variedJim moved repeatedly, mostly in theregion of the Somme, but he camethrough without a wound and workedin the Folkestone post office. By1930or so teleprinters were displacingtelegraphists and his considerableskills were discounted.

Between 1878 and 1913 thetechnology that was used appears tohave changed little. il/IM

SourcesRoberts in India ( 1993) Military papers F/M LordRoberts edited by B. Robson.Durand. Sir Mortimer ( 1915) Sir George White

Manse - filth] 2003

Morse Mattersby Dr Gary Bold ZL1AN

What Does a Counterpoise Do?

More SpectrumAnalyser Software

Which Paddle Keys the Bit?

WhatDoesaCounterpoiseDo?

eedback tells me that a few morepeople are taking their rigs to theholiday cottage or tent. raising

some wire. and tuning up on the HFbands. Most are pleasantly surprisedhow much DX they can work on CW,but one email I received said:

I threw up an end-fed randomwire like yours and tuned up on 20metres. But whenever 1 Closed eitherkeyer paddle, the keyer turned on andstayed on.’

Then I remembered that yousaid something about a counterpoise. Istrung about a quarter-wave length ofwire out the window and across thegrass, connected to the ground terminalof the transmatch. And the keyerworked fine! I have three questions:What made the keyer lock up?How did the counterpoise fi.\' theproblem?If the counterpoise is some sort ofartificial ground' why should it beopen-Circuit at the far end when it‘obviously' makes more sense to‘flffif86 —,’7u@2003

ground the far end?Incidentally, I searched for

counterpoise on the web, and foundquite a lot of conflicting information!

First AnswerI know that the keyer in use is

one of the new generationmicroprocessor-controlled units whichare small and run for ages on penlightcells. These use CMOS chips, high-impedance, low—current devices - idealfor picking up stray RF, rectifying it,and causing one or more gates to latchon. Random wires often present a highimpedance at their feedpoint, and theresulting high electric field componentin the vicinity of the transmitter causesthe problem. In such a case you'll oftenfeel a 'tingle' from the metal of thepaddles when the transmitter is keyed.And if you do, you’ll know that youhave a potential problem.

Sometimes you can improvethings by adding/subtracting a metreor so from the antenna wire. orconnecting the keyer base to thetransmitter and/or transmatch caseswith short crocodile-clip jumper leads.But in my experience, these are cludges,and adding a counterpoise almostalways works better.

Second AnswerThe counterpoise did provide

a better RF ground, an ‘artificialground‘ which kept the cases of thetransmitting units closer to ‘true’ground potential. But why should thisbe 'better‘ than a wire connecteddirectly to a water pipe or ground-stake?

J7

Third answerBecause if this ground wire is

an appreciable fraction of a wavelength,it acts, in conjunction with the ground.as a lossy, non-uniform transmissionline. It doesn‘t look like a‘conventional‘ transmission line. as weare used to seeing two conductors. Thesecond conductor in this case is the‘image' of the ground wire in theground itself. as shown in Figure 1.

(Strip lines used in microwave circuitswork like this).

The ground is always lossy. so thetransmission line is lossy too. withcharacteristic impedance and velocityfactor varying along its length. andintractable to calculate analytically. (Ofcourse there's an image. not shown. ofthe antenna in the ground as well. andI have somewhat oversimplified what I

think happens. Electromagnetic expertsare welcome to correct me.)

There are two cases however,where we can estimate what happens.Two well—known results from losslesstransmission line theory state that ahalf-wave line has an input impedance.Zm. equal to its terminating impedance.ZL. A quarter-wave line has an inputimpedance given by Zin = Z) ZL whereZn is the line‘s characteristicimpedance.

That means that a short-circuited quarter-wave line has aninfinite input impedance. and an open—circuited one looks like a short circuit.These results are independent of Zn.

Thus an earth wire a quarter-wavelength long results in the worstpossible situation! It will reflect a highimpedance to ground at the transmitter

18

terminals (not infinite. because the lineis lossy). In free space, this is about 5metres at 14 MHz. so if your groundwire is roughly this length (or probablyshorter. see later). you turn your'ground‘ into a high-impedance pointfor RF!

It is much better to open-circuit the far end. because this willreflect a low impedance at thetransmitter. And when you do this. youhave a counterpoise. This is the reasonthat the conventional wisdom says thata counterpoise should be about aquarter-wavelength long at theoperating frequency. and open at thefar end.

It's sometimes stated that thecounterpoise should be appreciablyless than a free-space quarter-wavelong - maybe only 60% as long as this.This is because the velocity factor ofthe transmission line it forms with itsimage will be much less than in freespace due to the higher dielectricconstant and finite conductivity of theground - both of which varyenormously. But I have never foundthat the length is particularly critical.and my 20 metres of wire. simply laidalong the grass. usually seems to clearup rf sensitivity on all HF bands with50 - 100 Watts of CW going out.

You can connect such acounterpoise in parallel with theexisting ‘dc‘ ground. as I have done in

my shack. or even have severalcounterpoise lines in parallel cut fordifferent bands. Many apartmentdwellers high in buildings have alsoused one or more counterpoises withsuccess - although in this case, as

MM86 - :1sz 2003

they‘re a long way from the ground,the ‘counterpoise’ will radiate, and actmore like another leg of their existingantenna. Even your counterpoise fromthe bach will radiate a little if your rigis a few metres above ground - but evenso. having it should improve things.

Nevertheless, it's unlikely thateven a meticulously adjustedcounterpoise wire will give a near-zeroimpedance to ground, so some peoplehave experimented with tunablecounterpoise wires. These can be assimple as an inductor in series with thecounterpoise, adjusted to maximise theRF current flowing in it — a bit likeinductively loading a short whip forresonance.

The MFJ—934 Antenna Tuner/AItifial Ground is a commercial unit

which contains both a standard antennatuner and an inductive ‘ground wire‘tuner. It is said to work well, and inprinciple it certainly should. Hasanyone any experience with such units?

Which Paddle Keys the Bit?’ve recently received severalenquiries along the lines of ”I'mchanging to a keyer, and am

confused about which way round toconnect the paddle. Should the thumbkey the dit or the dah?‘

The short answer is thatconventionally the thumb keys the dit,but I know people who key the otherway round - and indeed there is somereason now for doing so. But first, some

Poddle Tronsmotchl:looooTransceiver

Ground level

Antenna \«h.

Counterpolse/Image ofcounterpolse

Figure 1.

lgnjInFISTS CW Club— The International Morse Preservation Society

l——tCLUB

FISTS exists to promote amateur CW activity. it welcomes members with alllevels of Morse proficiency, and especially newcomers to the key.

The club has awards nets (including a beginners net), dial---a-sked forbeginners straight key activities QSL bureau, newsletter and discountsfrom traders.

Further information can be obtained from Geo. Longden G3203, 119Cemetery Road Darwen, Lancs BBS 2L2. Send an s. a. e. or two lRCs

film/[86 —]u4/ 2003 19

history: It all goes back to the evolutionof semi-automatic, vibrating-arm.sideways—actuated keys. These weredeveloped partly to help telegraphistswho had developed ‘glass arm‘ - whichwe know know as RSI. and partly tohelp good operators send faster, moreaccurately and with less effort.

Several people patented designsin the 1880‘s, but these had ineffectivevibration damping causing (in a reviewof the time) ‘blttrry sending and splitdots‘. Thus, professional telegraphistscame to despise them, and denigratedthem as ‘only fit for a bug‘, because‘bug operator‘ at the time meant a trulylousy operator with a terrible fist.

The first successful design waspatented in 1904 by Horace Martin.who solved the damping problem witha neat mechanical momentum absorber.

He called it the Vibroplex. and custombuilt all the first models at his home inBrooklyn. These were very successful.Business grew.

In 1920. the famous ‘lightningbug’ trademark logo appeared onVibroplex keys for the first time. It‘susually assumed that Martin adopted itas a triumphant retort to the design‘searlier denigrators. The descriptor ‘bugkey' rapidly became applied to all suchkeys. and is still used today. I own aVibroplex Champion, bequeathed tome by an old maritime op who used tobe a technician in my department.

But I think that the most beautifulof all Vibroplex models was the BlueRacer. produced in the 1930s andshown in figure two. This is a faithful,modern reproduction which you canbuy today. (Search the web on \‘ibroplex

Vibrop/exBlue Racer

20 MMB6 - ]u[y 2003

to find the Vibroplex company - nowreincarnated under new management).You can probably see the “lightningbug~ logo on the middle of the base.

But I digress. In a bug key, ditsare formed automatically by asideways-vibrating pendulum, but dahshave to be made manually. Martinreasoned that the thumb, the “least agile'digit, should initiate the dits, leavingthe more versatile forefinger for thedahs. Thus he defined the paddlepolarity, and this was universallyadopted by all other designers.

When electronic keyers camealong, in the 1940's, it was sensible toadopt the same convention for theirpaddles, so that bug operators couldeasily make the transition. But there‘sa subtle difference! Keyers also makeautomatic dahs, which now becomethe ‘easier' element - they‘re longer!So maybe it is more sensible to allocatedahs as the thumbs job, since mostnew keyer operators now start fromscratch, and have never programmedtheir fingers with a bug. But I did, andmy hand is forever programmed withthumb/dit reflexes which can never beeradicated.

Actually, it doesn‘t matter anymore. The best and cheapest keyers areall now microprocessor controlled, andthe paddle polarity can be changed atwill. So do whatjust seems best to you.

Another email has came infrom a new keyer operator. Should heselect iambic mode A or B“? And what'sthe difference? That will have to waituntil another column. In the meantime,I‘ll just say ‘go for type B‘, which iswhat I use.

MM86 —;quy 2003

The ‘First 080’ Helper Groupharlie, ZL3CED dropped me aline to let me know how hisfirst CW QSO went. ‘It was

absolutely nerve racking, but the nextday I was walking around like an airhead, I had really done it! I got hookedright there and then.‘It has now been a month since I hadthis CW QSO with Ron, ZLITW. Hishelp has been absolutely incredible.To date we’ve had 10 QSOs, and areintending to meet on Monday nightson 80m so he can push me along andprovide feedback.‘Now I‘m chasing DX! Sending myown CQs on 80m and 20m, and havingsome real good ragchews when I findsomeone who is going at my presentspeed. I did not believe I would be thisfar ahead after a month!The idea of having volunteers availablefor the first CW QSO really works! I amliving proof!‘

Charlie, well done, andwelcome to the world~wide fellowshipof CW ops! The group here is co-ordinated by Ron, ZLITW and Paul,ZLlPC, who have respective emailaddresses zlltw@nzart.org.nzzllpc@nzart.org.nz

Just email, phone or write toeither of them to set up your first CWQSO, or tune around 3520 kHz in theearly evening.

Friendship, understanding andencouragement guaranteed!Incidentally, Ron tells me that the newlower-speed Morse testingrequirements in many countries seemto be having an effect. There are more

21

low-speed (10 — 15 wpm) operatorsappearing on all of the HF bands.making it easier for other newcomersto obtain contacts at speeds they cancomprehend. I‘m not surprised. as I

predicted that this would happen.

More Spectrum AnalyserSoftware

In MM85 I showed passband curvesof Lionel Sears‘ audio filteringprogram Binster. These were producedusing a combination of Chris Craig‘sexcellent Goldwave digitizing programand the professional signal processingprogram MATLAB. But then I stumbledacross a free program. by Paul Kellett.which does all this directly!Have a look at Figure 3. This is theoperating screen of ‘Analyser‘. one ofthree programs contained in adistribution package calledWavetool.zip. which you can downloadfrom http://www.mda—vst.com/ andalso from http://www.hitsquad.com/

ESpectruml'fi':Elle Edit Help

smm/programs/Sonogram/The package requires the

dynamic link library file VBrun300.dll.which can be downloaded from http://www.1reviews.com/dll/dsound.shtml

Analyser takes its input eitherfrom the soundcard. or from a WAV(audio) file. If you connect the audiooutput from your receiver to thesoundcard. you'll see a continuouslyupdated display like figure 3. showingyour audio passband. Various spectralresolutions. zero settings and rangesare possible. and. best of all. two spectralaveraging functions.

These have the effect ofsmoothing out the sample-to-sampleplot variations. Exponential smoothingis “decaying weighted averaging‘. witha time-constant like an RC low-passfilter circuit. Cumulative averagingsimply averages a large number of inputsamples, and here I‘ve averaged 222 ofthem (no paticular reason. [just hit "2~

three times). This gave a nice averagespectrum which completely ironed out

—l l_>_<_l

F:e:sw:ull.itil:ln 43 Hz LlLevel: Mar: _.

Cli:;‘»:p|a_l,- MInput: -l EEIdElFEi

vjl

Hr.

Time:

Figure 3.

22 MM86 — j]14/ 2003

occasional static crashes.Figure 3 shows the passband

of the standard (wide) CW setting ofmy Yaesu FT767-GX, and we see thatwhile the skirts are satisfyingly steep,the response varies across it by about20 dB. Accurate information is easy toretreive. as you can move a cursoracross the plot. and read out the currentco-ordinates from the bottom window.

Even better, there's an optionto write the frequency/level points inthe graph to a two-column, tabdelimitedtext file. which you can import into

Excel, or some other suitable packageof your choice for further processing,or to blow up portions of the plot. (Ifyou haven’t got such a suitablepackage, email me for a free one I’mwriting in Delphi.)

If you‘re interested in filterresponses, Check this out. You’ll beimpressed.

See you on the bottom of thebands.(Adapted and edited for MM from GaryBold's The Morsemmz column in BreakIn. the journal of NZART) MM

RadioBygones

the vintage wireless magazineAnnual subscription (6 issues):

UK - £18.50; Europe - £19.50; Restof the World £23.75.

Or send £3.25 for a sample copyFor further details, contactWimbomePublishingLimited

408 Wimbome Road East. FerndownDorset BH22 9ND, England

Phone: +44 (0) 1202 873872Fax: +44 (0) 01202 874562

E-mail: radiobygones@wimborne.co.uk

Viiwww.radiobygones.com :VISA—

finders forMorsum Mtgflificat

Covered in a hard-wearing red grained finish.with the magazinetitle blocked in gold on thespine. each binder holds twelve issues of themagazine, retained by strong wires, but easilyremovable should the need arise.

£7.90............. UK£8.50.............Europe£9.80.............Rest oftheWorld (Air Mail)

G-QRP ClubThe G-QRP Club promotes and encourages low-power operatingon the amateur bands with activity periods, awards and trophies. Facilities

. include a quarterly magazine, Morse training tapes, kits, traders‘ discountsand a QSL bureau. Novices and SWLs welcome.Enquiries to Rev. George Dobbs G3RJV, St Aidan’s Vicarage,? 498 Manchester Road, Rochdale, Lancs OL11 3HE. Send a

v large s.a.e. or two IRCs

MM86 —]u@/ 2003 22’

Photo/CollectionzTom

Perera,

W1TP

ShozmwMorsum Magnificatt 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,

An earlyneed/e telegraph trainingset usedby the British Post Office.The teachersltsin frontof the sidethat/s shown andoperates the leftand right key to move the needleleft for dots and right for dashes,

The student sits on thebackside of the instrument andreads the display which, by asystem ofreversedlevers exact/ymimicsthe display that the teachersees. The student writesdownthemessage sent by the display.

VK2JWA

Photo/Collection:

John

Alcom

Australian Post OfficeClipsa/ key

24 [WM/[86 — [7114/ 2003

Photo/Collection:

Tom

Perera,

W1

TP

A very early elaborate came/back key & sounder. This all brass key with leaf spring has a massiveelaboratelycurved leverotthe earliest “camelback"or “humpbacked"shape which was adoptedsoon afterMorse ’s demonstration. These keys were onlymade fora short timebecause the steelshaft, press fit intothe lever, tendedto workloose with use. The sounderisalso heavy brass but, although it was mounted ona boardalong with thiskey. lbelieve that the soundermay be from a laterperiod. Theoriginalwooden baseis missing. The two instruments came froma burned railroadstation in Canada. Circa 1848. (FromPerera ’s

Telegraph Te/eraph Collectors Guide)

m

Photo/Collection:

Greg

Ulsamer,DL1BFE

This rapid transmitter type RT-3 was used with the German spy radios SP 15 and SP 20 in the GermanIntelligence Service and laterin the Bundeswehr in the secondhalf of the 20th Century. it generates onlyfollowing characters: W, F, V, R, 5, K. B, Qand M. Themessages were createdby thesecharacterswith thehelp of code-tables. It is said that this item was made in UK. Any info about this fact welcome. Other infoathttp://wwwspyradio.de/afdhtml

MMss — Juh/ 2003 25

PREVIOUS ARTICLE (From0110 Code to Another, MM19)described the early

development of the signalling codenamed after Samuel F.B. Morse. whichwas later known as "American Morse."Some of that material is extracted andsummarised in the first part of thisarticle in order to present an overallpicture of how the International Morsecode evolved. Discussion of thecontroversy about who actuallyauthored the American code of 1844,Samuel Morse or Alfred Vail. is notincluded but can also be found in theearlier article. As will be seen here,there is no controversy

Evolution of theInternational Morse

Code

Part 1 - EuropeanFoothold

by Tony Smith

of his electro-magnetic telegraph in1837. at which time Morse was still

engaged in building up his

about who authored the full dictionary of numericalfirst of the European 1 - codes. See Figure 1.

codes, which led to 2 ..“International Morse" as 3 ..- First Alphabetical Codewe know it today. 4 - - - . At a further demonstration

5 ----- on 24th January 1838,Original Code 5 - __ Morse and Vail (who had

Morse‘s original 7 .-— now become one ofidea, in 1832. was for a 8 .--— Morse's partners in thenumerical dot, line and g - - . ._ development of the electric

space code. linked with a 0 -.- - ._ telegraph) used a newcode dictionary. Apart alphabetical code withfrom signalling numbers Figure 1’ Morse's Morse's original port-rulerepresenting words this numerica/codeof1832. sending instrument. whichcode could also sendnumbers representing letters to enableunusual words not in the codedictionary to be spelled out in full. Thiswas the code being used when AlfredVail attended a demonstration by Morse

26

had been rebuilt andimproved by Vail. Instead of loadingup the instrument with cast typerepresenting numbers, they used typerepresenting letters and doubled thesending speed of the system. It was.

9V[M86 - :quy 2005

however, still a cumbersome processas each message to be sent had to beloaded individually into the machine.

This first alphabetical code wasthe forerunner of American Morse. Itused dots. lines, and spaces betweengroups of dots, for individual letters(the letter B. for instance, was- - - - andC was - - - ). These symbols werechosen arbitrarily without regard tothe frequency with which particularletters occurred in everyday use.Exceptionally, the symbol for E was asingle dot, using the shonest symbolfor the most common letter,anticipating a later more scientificapproach to code compilation. Thiscode is shown in Fig.2 as FirstAlphabetical Code 1838.

It had not been a simple step toproceed from a numerical code to analphabetical code. In 1847, Vailpublished a booklet, Description of theAmerican Electro Magnetic Telegraph,which described the Morse telegraphinstmments and code used on the 1844demonstration line betweenWashington and Baltimore, whereMorse was Superintendent and VailAssistant Superintendent.

Vail observed that: “During theperiod of 13 years, many plans havebeen devised by the inventor to bringthe telegraphic alphabet to its simplestform. The plan of using the commonletters of the alphabet, twenty six innumber, with twenty six wires, one wirefor each letter, has received its dueshare of his time and thought. Othermodes of using the common letters ofthe alphabet, with a single wire, havealso been under his consideration.Manse —,7ufy 2003

Plans ofusing two, three, four, five andsix wires to one registering machinehave, in their turn, receivedproportionate study and deliberation.But these, and many other plans, aftermuch care and many experiments, havebeen discarded; he being satisfied thatthey do not possess that essentialelement, simplicity, which belongs tohis original first thought, and the onewhich he has adopted. "

Success at LastIn 1844, after years of

disappointment in trying to getgovernment recognition of hisinvention, Morse was finally authofisedto set up a full—scale demonstrationline along the railroad betweenWashington and Baltimore. For thisproject the partnership produced yetanother new code, a rearrangement ofthe 1838 code into a more sensibleorder based on the frequency of use ofeach letter in the English language.

An undated note by Morseshows what was done after the mostfrequently used letters were identified.Every letter was given a separatesymbol, unlike the previous codewhich had the same symbol forphonetically similar letters (i.e., GJ:IY: and $2). The symbols wereweighted to determine their length.enabling the shortest signals to beallocated to the most commonly usedletters and the longest to those lettersused the least. A dot counted as l; adash was 2; a space between groups ofdots 1; and a long dash (letter L') 4;while no letter was to exceed a weightedcount of 5.

27

In the final code there was oneunexplained exception to thisapproach. This was the letter J whichMorse‘s notes show as - - - - countingas 5 and fitting in sensibly with thepattern of symbols used for the otherletters. The final symbol adopted,however, was — - — - which brokethe rules by counting as 6 and, byimplication, defined J as the least usedletter of the alphabet. (The letter countfound the least used letters were Q -

500; J - 400‘. X - 400: and Z - 200).For some reason. the rejected

- - - - was used for ampersand (&),and it survives informally today inamateur radio as the signal ES with thesame meaning. The 1844 code, whichin time became known as AmericanMorse. was the standard operating codeon the telegraph landlines of the USAand Canada until the end of the Morsetelegraph in North America in the1960's. This code is shown in Figure 2

as American Morse [84-1.

Lack of Interest in EuropeIn 1845, Morse visited a number

of European countries trying to interesttheir administrations in his telegraph.Concurrently Charles T. Fleischmann.an agent of the U.S. Patent Officetravelling through Europe on officialbusiness, carried with him a completetelegraphic outfit which he brought tothe notice of each government hevisited. He reported on October 7:“There is no doubt Morse's telegraphis the best of that description I have yetseen, but the difficulty of introducing itis in this circumstance, that everyscientific man invents a similar thing

28

and, without having the practicalexperience and practical arrangementwhich make Morse 's so preferable, theywill experiment a few miles' distanceonly, and no doubt it works; bttt, whenthey conte to put it up at a greatdistance, then they will find that theirexperience is not sufficient, and mustcome back ultimately to Morse's plan.The Austrian Government is muchoccupied selecting out of many plans(of telegraphs) one for her railroads. Ihave offered Morse’s and proposedexperiments. I am determined to stayfor some time, to give them a chance ofmaking up their minds. "

However, neither Morse norFleischmann had any success. Morsewrote to his daughter from London onOctober 9, 1845: “I know not what tosay ofmy telegraphic matters here yet.There is nothing decided upon and Ihave many obstacles to contendagainst, particularly the opposition ofthe proprietors of existing telegraphs:but that mine is the best system 1 havenow no doubt. All that I have seen,while they are ingenious, are morecomplicated, more expensive, lessefficient and easier deranged. It maytake some time to establish thesuperiority of mine over the others, fortltere is the usual array of prejudiceand interest against a system whichthrows others out of use.”

Having failed in his attempts tointroduce the Morse telegraph in anyEuropean country, Morse sailed fromLiverpool on November 19, 1845, toconcentrate on the development andexpansion of his invention in the UnitedStates.

{RM/[86 — gluty 2003

FirstAlphabetical American Morse 1844Code1838

A .-- __—B .. -- _--.C - -. .. -D ..- - _.-E . -F - --. -..-G .- - __-H ..-- -..-I ... -.J .. - _.._.-K _.._. _.._.L _.._. _.._.M _.._. _—N ..- ..-o .. . -p _.._- _--_-Q --_- --_.R - . - --S -..- ---T _.._. __U ._— __—V _ ---—w --.. _.._.x .... _.._-Y ... -. .-z -... ... -& - .--

Figure 2. Evolution of American Morse

First European Foothold not authorised by Morse to representTwo years later, in 1847, the him. The situation is explained in a

Morse telegraph obtained its first letter sent by Morse to the Hon.WilliamEuropean foothold, in Germany, H. Stiles, Charge d‘Affaires of thethrough the efforts of three Americans United States at the Court of Austria:MM86 —ju@ 2003 29

well as in any kind of weather.”As the main purpose of the

optical telegraph was to carry trafficfor the Marine Dispatch Service, thelatter argument was particularlyrelevant in the interest of providing animproved service for the then rapidlyexpanding steamship traffic.

instruments and code used on the 1844line between Washington andBaltimore.

Gerke translated Vail's bookletinto German. and it was published byHoffmann and Campe in Hamburg in1848. In it. he wrote: “The translatorofthis document has the honour ofhaving

Who was Gerke?Born in 1801, Friedrich Clemens Gerke, like Samuel F.B. Morse, was at first sight anunlikely candidate for a pioneering career in telegraphy - Morse, an artist; Gerke, amusician and poet.

Gerke’s talents became evident when he was still at school, in Bad Rehburg, buthis parents were unable to pay for his further education to develop them. A wealthyHamburg merchant took him into his home with a promise of a liberal education butinstead exploited him as a servant and a clerk.He enlisted as a musician in the British Army in what was then the British Colony of

Canada. He was again disappointed, this time with the life of the Army's “other ranks", andafter three years bought his discharge. He returned to Hamburg in 1823 and until 1841worked in various capacities, mainly as a musician and writer. In 1841 he was appointedInspector of the Hamburg-Cuxhaven Optical Telegraph Company, the principal purposeof which was to supply shipping information between Hamburg and Cuxhaven.

When Robinson successfully introduced Morse’s electro-mechanical telegraphsystem as a replacement for the optical telegraph, Gerke made a substantial contributionto the new installation, the first Morse line in Europe, including his modification of Morse‘scode to make it more suitable for German use. After the Hamburg EIectro-MagneticTelegraph Company was amalgamated into the telegraph administration of the NorthGerman Confederation, he became the first Inspector of the Hamburg Telegraphs, from1869 to 1872. He died, in Hamburg, on 21st May 1888. His unsung memorial is his codewhich, with some small modification, eventually became the International Morse codethat we know today.

Easier Code for German UseFriedrich Clemens Gerke,

originally Inspector of the optical line,took charge of the new electro—mechanical telegraph. His “handbook"for his new post was the previouslymentioned booklet by Alfred Vail,which descn'bed the Morse telegraphMM86 —,’lu[_y 2003

been called by the management of thissoon-to-be-established Institute to beits Inspector and Technical Manager,because ofhis similarfimction with theoptical telegraph for six years. Hebelieves that he can predict that theHamburg trade will benefit from thisnew arrangement, which will meet

3]

every expectation, shanze capriciousopponents and doubters, and point outthe needless shortcomings of theoptical telegraph, of which he is fullyaware front his many years ofsupezvision of it. ”

Referring to Vail‘s explanationof how the code had evolved. he said:“For our general use in Germancommunication I have set up anothereasier system... naturally with the samecharacter elements...”

For his code, Gerke used dotsand dashes as in American Morse, butdid not use the extended spaces whichfeatured in Morse‘s characters. Thelong dash, for the letter L. was alsoeliminated, and the letter J was omittedfrom the alphabet. Within the alphabetthere was now only one type of dash,equalling 3 dots in length, and withinany character there was only one typeof space, equalling 1 dot. The spacebetween two characters equalled 3 dots,and the space between words or groupsof figures equalled 6 dots. Twenty ofthe American Morse alphabeticalcharacters were retained. althoughseveral of them had their meaningschanged. For the numerals, Gerkeretained the American characters,including the long dash for 0. Hisalphabetical code is set out in Figure 3.Numerals are discussed in Part 2 of thisarticle.

Gerke‘s code. which hepublished in a book, The PracticalTelegrapher, in 1851, set the patternfor European Morse, but as thetelegraph spread to other GermanStates, and to Austria, each State, apartfrom Prussia. devised its own variation

32

of the code. Gerke’s concept of justtwo basic code elements was followedby each State, but with differentcombinations of those elements, thusnecessitating manual translation fromone code to another as messagescrossed State boundaries.

Beginning ofStandardisation

On July 25, 1850, Austria,Bavaria, Prussia and Saxony signedwhat became known as the "DresdenConvention" to create the “Austro-German Telegraph Union". This wassupplemented by three furtherconferences, Vienna 1851, Berlin1853, and Munich 1855. During thisperiod further countries joined theUnion, namely Wiirtemberg (1851).Hanover (1852), Netherlands (1852),Baden (1854), and Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1854).

The aim of the 1850 conventionwas to link the telegraph systems ofthe participating countries by theintroduction of common legislation.an exchange of scientific andadministrative information, andperiodic meetings of the countriesconcerned.

The Vienna convention ofOctober 1851 continued the processof eliminating barriers to internationaltelegraphic communications. Itstipulated that the international linesof the contracting nations should bedirectly connected to eliminate the needfor telegrams to be physically handedacross the frontier by operators of onecountry to operators of the other.Standard tariffs and accounting

Manse - july 2003

European

om>=>

O I

Iommmo

N<><g<c=c—Im100'uo=02§f‘7<‘-

Gerke code 1848

Not used

Austro- German 1852 Austro- German 1858

Figure 3. Developmentof European code to 1858.

MM86 4114/ 2003 33

systems were established, and theMorse telegraph, using a slightlyamended version of Gerke‘s code,became the official system forinternational lines within the Union,effective July 1st, 1852. This amendedcode is shown in Fig.3 as Austra-German 1852.

In the 1852 code. the allocationof dots and dashes was defined in“classes". The alphabet was confinedto classes 1 - 4, ie. all letters hadbetween one and four dots or dashes.Numerals were class 5, ie, with fivedots or dashes, and punctuationsymbols were in class 6 with six dots ordashes. With only two elements (ie, adot and a dash) for a given class. thenumber of possible variations for thefirst four classes is 2' + 23 + 23+ 2‘l = 30.These were all allocated in the 1852code and accordingly the letters A orA, E and N. added later, had to beplaced in class 5. comprising five dotsor dashes.

The fifth conference of theAustro-German Telegraph Union, heldin Stuttgart in 1857, codified andrevised the agreements of the previousconferences, effective April lst, 1858.This included the creation of formal“Service Instluctions”. containing therules relating to the techniques of theinternational telegraph service,including the code to be used, aspreviously agreed. A comparison ofthe changes to the code up to 1858 isshown in Figure 3.

Meanwhile, several WesternEuropean states followed the lead ofthe Central European states, concludingbilateral treaties for international

34

telegraphic communications. In 1855,these states, namely Belgium. France.Sardinia, Spain and Switzerland createdthe “West European Telegraph Union"with provisions almost identical tothose adopted by the Austro—GermanTelegraph Union. As both unionsexpanded they established links witheach other while still providingtelegraphic services under differentsets of regulations.

European Recognition of Morse’sInvention

The revised code increasinglybeing used across the continent,although inspired by Morse, couldbasically be attributed to Gerke. Theelectro—magnetic telegraph systemused, however, was Morse’s inventionbrought to Europe in 1847 without theinventors permission by WilliamRobinson and his colleagues. DespiteMorse‘s 1847 letter to the charge’d'affaires of the United States at theCourt of Austria, quoted above, theMorse system continued to be installedin European countries withoutrecognition of his right to royalties foruse of his invention.

In 1858, Morse published amemorial addressed directly to thegovernments concerned, asking for apersonal gratuity in return for thesavings resulting from the use of hisinvention in Europe. In response,representatives of Austria, Belgium,France, the Netherlands, the PapalStates, Piedmont, Russia, Sweden,Turkey, and Tuscany, met in Paris todiscuss his request.

Premier WaleskiM71486 - [lufy 2003

of France

pointed out that the principles of thetelegraph were not Morse’s, but thesystem commonly used across Europewas his. It was one of the most usefulinventions of its time, and of greatfinancial benefit to the governmentsconcerned. In recognition of this, itwas agreed that a sum of 400,000francs, in four annual payments, beawarded to Morse, apportioned by thepayment of 311.55 francs for everytelegraph instmment in each country.France paid the largest sum, having462 instruments, while Tuscany paidthe smallest. having only 14instruments. Great Britain was not partyto this agreement as its telegraphs werenot government owned at that time.The value of the award was aboutUS$60.000. and after disbursements tohis partners, and to Alfred Vail’swidow, Morse‘s share was around$19,000.

DisappointmentMorse was somewhat

disappointed at the size of the award,but accepted it with dignity. Hisbusiness agent, Amos Kendall, wasmore forthright. In a letter to Morsedated May 18. 1858, he wrote: “I knownot how to express my contempt of themeanness of the EuropeanGovernments in the award they proposeto make to you as fie inventor of theTelegraph. I had set the sum at halfamillion dollars as the least that they

couldfeel to be at all compatible withtheir dignity. I hope you willacknowledge it more as a tribute to themerits of your intention than as anadequate reward for it. "

In a further letter, of June 5,replying to one from Morse which musthave been more moderate in referenceto the award, Kendall wrote: “I have tosay that it is only a tribute to thesuperiority of your intention that theEuropean grant cart. in my opinion, beconsidered either ‘generous' or‘magnaninzous'. As an indemnity it isniggardly and mean. "

Further recognition was givento Morse in the form of high honoursawarded him by a number of Europeancountries. These included the FrenchLegion of Honour: The Scientific GoldMedal of Prussia: The Scientific GoldMedal of Austria; and similar awardsfrom Spain, Portugal, Italy,Wiirtemberg, Turkey, and Denmark.He was also made a member of theRoyal Academy of Sciences of Sweden.and of the Institute of France.

He had now received therecognition he sought. His telegraph,using modified Gerke code. was inwidespread use across Europe. Eightyears later. that code would be formallyadopted by the newly createdInternational Telegraph Union, andwould eventually be used around theworld for international telegraphiccommunication. MM

Copyright @2002 Tony Smith G4FAI(Part2 of this article. in the next issue ofMM, describesthe creation of the ITU in 1865. and its adoption of EuropeanMorse: the gradual spreadofthe code round the world; the impact otra diotelegraphy: the evolutionotsigna/s fornumera/sandpunctuation: later minor amendmentsto the code; changes in spacing: andmore.)MM86 — Jud] 2003 5.6“

Readers are invited to contribute any additional information and stories no matter howminor to the Editor

Morsum MagnIiicat. 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.

This is a key which seemsto have been mounted on afrontpanel and can befolded away when not inuse. Can anyone identifythe equipment from which ithas come.

Photo/Collection:

George

Eddowes,

G3NOH

Photo/Collection

Jack

Barker

This unmarked GPO look-a-llke key has similar base dimensions to the standardGPO keys but all thebrasswork is much thinner. Thepivot block is in two parts and there is no pivot pin holding screw on top ofthe lever. The contacts are quite large. the terminals are unusual and the knob appears to be original. Thewhole key is of excellent quality. Could this be a Webbs Radio 28 shillingspecial as shown on the coverofMM67?Any info please.

36 MM86 - jury 2003

Photo/Collection:

Fons

Vanden

Berghen,

Halle,BeIgium

Photo/Collection:

John

Clappistone

Can any readergive more about the central site stoo tickerequipment from this picture. it is an AutomaticTickerTransmitter 10-Bmade by the Ford InstMtrln. Alsointo on thiscompanyis welcome!Fons VandenBerghen, Ha/le-Belgium: see address in “Readers

This instrumentis marked ‘MuirheadRecorder Type D-328-A. Has anyreaderanyinfo pleaseon its age, useetc. There appear to some partsmissing. Can anyone identity theseplease.

MM86 —Jufy 2003

SpeciuflSt9900/6; on Tekflrupfiy5y flfazTOrdéri I I

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MM BOOKSHELF - ANNOUNCEMENT

All the books listed on these pages are currently available from stock butsome titles cannot be replenished when cu1rent stock is sold. Whenpurchasing books. please order from the latest list.

Wake of the Wirelessman by B.J. Clemons

This is the true storyofDale Clemons. born in 1895. in Iowa. whograduated as amarinewireless operator in 1914. . For two years he sailed in everything from lumberschooners to passenger liners. Although there have been books relating to theexperiencesof seagoingoperatorsfromthe 1930s onwards.“WakeoftheWirelessman"describes the practices, equipment and happenings of an earlier time, revealing manyfascinating and little-known facts.

14.20 UK - 14.70 Europe - 17.00 Rest of World

AmericanTelegraphy& EncyclopediaoftheTelegraph by William MaverJr.

Facsimile by Lindsay Publications of the 700 page illustrated 1912 encyclopedia(5th Editioni but carries copyrights that go back to 1892. This is a classicencyclopedia oftelegraphy with 544 illustrations ofequipment. circuits. proceduresand installation methods. A must have for collectors & historians. 6 x 9in (15.5 x23.5 cm). Gold—blocked hardcover.

£39.00 UK - £40.00 EU - £43.50 World

Vibroplex Collector’sGuide by Tom French

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This classic work on Vibroplex bug keys and their history is back inCttlltfic‘t‘t‘it’fs Guide print. It covers all the models from the 1902 “Autoplex” to the present

day and includes original design information and drawings. copies ofpatents. nameplates. serial numbers and decals. The book is rich indrawings and photographs. Softcover. 126 pages, 81/: x 1033 ins (21.5 x27.5 cm) Available in January 2002.

£15.00 UK - £15.80 EU - £17.60 World

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yourLettersType F (Bathtub) Key

Regarding the Type F key in MMSS,page 37. this was used in severaldifferent aircraft including an opencockpit type. I have used the key mainlywith R1082/T1083 sets, thepredecessors to the T1154/R1155shown in the photo in MMSS on Ansons,De Havilland Rapides, Hudsons.Dakotas etc.

Even super aircraft like theAmerican Hudsons had the antiqueR1082/T1083 (with all coils) installed.I recall in 1940/41. flying with 206Squadron in new Hudsons fresh fromthe USA. the R1082/T1083 equipmentwas installed. Also in 1941/42 with200 Squadron in West Africa. againthe 01d R1082/T1083 in Hudsons.

It is ironic that as I write this,on Sunday 18”1 May, it is 61 years to theday that I sent an SOS on one of theseType F keys. But that is another story.

Flt Lt V. J. Reynolds (Ret’d),G3COY/G4ATC

Stoke-on-Trent, UK

I have had a word with an ex-WirelessOperator/Air Gunner who was shotdown in 19—1—1 and he tells me that thespring was definitely used to lock thekey and send a constant signalfor bearing purposes. He tells me that itwas in 'Orders' to do so. He did it as

42

they were coming down, but said that itwouldn’t have done them any good asthey were too low !

Tom Quinn, MQCSDMiddlesborough, UK

A comment on Henri Jacob’s letterabout the RAF Morse key: although nodoubt you will be flooded with repliesfrom just about every reader who was awireless op. around the 19303/1940s!

So far as I can recall from thedays when I did my signals training atCompton Bassett in 1941, we weretaught to use both the Type F aircraftkey and the Type D for ground stationpoint-to-point communication.

As is well illustrated in the lastissue the Type F was rear-hinged sothat when it was open the lower casingdid represent a “bathtub” and it wasceltainly called that at that time and isa common description even today.

I have never heard it called a“boatkey”. The spn'ng loading was veryheavy and designed to enable theoperator to key under bumpy flyingconditions. As is suggested. the frontspring was there to hold the key downin an emergency whilst the fullenclosure gave protection againstsparking at the contacts which couldignite fuel vapours. The openingarrangement would enable the key

MM86 - jun, 2005

contacts to be cleaned.I have spoken to a friend of mine,

George Holtum, GW4SLZ, a one-timeaircrew operator and a pre-war regular,trained at Cranwell and Yatesbury, whotells me that the Type F key was alsoused with the earlier aircraft transmitter/receiver unit. the R1082/T1083, whichwas put into service in the late 19303and therefore in regular use until theadvent of the T1154/R1155.E.F.Jones, G3EUEWest Sussex, UK

These keys were standard types forRAF Mobile Signal Units, in one ofwhich I served from March 1944 untilNovember 1945. All our operatorsconsidered them to be inferior to thestandard ground station key, but astime went on they became quiteacceptable.

Space on the small Bedfordvans was at a premium and large keyswould have been a liability. The Clipenabling the back contact to beswitched on was never used as the 1 154transmitters were in another van withtwo wireless mechanics who didthe tuning and maintenance of thebatteries and motor generators etc.

When I was a D/F operator at aSunderland and Catalina station someof the air operators used the clip tomake their transmitter emit the long‘dash‘ when a bearing was requested.In my two years as a D/F operator I

never had to deal with the lasttransmissions of an aircraft prior to itscrashing, but there is no doubt the clipwould be used if needed.

The bathtub design wasMM86 — Jug; 2003

probably created to cover the metalparts from being touched by loosewiring, spilt tea etc. Petrol would haveentered eventually but BomberCommand personnel would probablyhave much to say about it.It would be interesting to knowsomething about the keys used onCatalinas whose radio gear was mostlyof Collins manufacture.

An Atlantic Clipper oncecalled us for a bearing and its operatorwas using a Vibroplex bug key. Theyare fitted with a shorting switch and nocover! (It was the only time that wewere paid for bearings — in the form of200 Camel cigarettes!)

John Worthington, GW3COIAbersoch, Wales

Regarding MMSS, Page 37, “Boat key‘!or “Bathtub key": I graduated fromNo.8 AOS at Ancienne Lorette PQ as aNAV/W and in training we usedidentical Marconi T1154 & R1155equipment as shown in the topphotograph on that page.

All radio traffic was by handkeying a “Bathtub”. We were expresslyforbidden to tune up until the aircraftengines were running and charging thebatteries. Once this happened we wouldclamp the spring clip over the shoulderaround the knob base to carry out ourtransmitter adjustments. It was difficultto send on the Bathtub with a glovedfist in —300 with the aircraft buckingaround in turbulence.

I still have my old “Bathtub"key “salvaged" after training some 60years ago. I‘ve replaced the perished

43

rubber seal (under the knob) withChamois leather.

One feature that intrigues mestill is that both top contact screwsincorporate internal springs that createa really tight, non-vibratory clamp onwiring.

Neville Copeland, ZL2AKVUpper Hutt, New Zealand

SAQ Grimeton 17.2kHz

Many thanks for your timely remindersabout CW events across the world. theseare always very welcome and bring toour attention many things that wouldotherwise be missed.

With reference to thetransmission from SAQ on the 29th ofJune. very few of us have equipmentcapable of receiving at this frequencyhas any reader made a recording ofwhat I am sure must be a unique CWsound?

Dave Lawrence, MMQBPSAyr, UK

d.fil@btinternet.c0m

SAQ and KPH Reception

I tried to listen to the specialtransmission of SAQ. Grimeton andKPH. Point Reeves.

About SAQ, Grimeton thepropagation here was hon‘ible. I couldhear what I suspect to be the can‘ierfrequency but no results at all.

About KPH, I think I heard it,but reception was poor due to badatmospheric conditions. It was the firsttime since the 25th of May that we had44

rain and the temperature was about 20-220C early in the morning and about30-350C in the afternoon. But I suspectthat through the QRM. I did hear theircall sign on 12808.5 kHz. Anyway. forboth stations I sent a signal report.

In September last year. I wasin San Francisco and visited the PointReeves transmitters. I could not get inbecause it was closed but still veryinteresting.

Robert A.L0up, HB9IJGMorges, Switzerlandlzoras@bluewin.ch

KeyAdjusters

Many straight keys. e.g. the standardGPO key. have one adjustment for thegap. Altering the gap does not changethe pressure that is needed to close thekey. Other keys, e.g. Marconi 365EZ,have two gap adjusters: a back onewhich works in the same way as theGPO key and a front one which alsochanges the pressure needed to closethe key when the gap is changed.

Why are two adjustersprovided? The cost of the key must beincreased by fitting the second adjuster.I wonder if this is a hang over from theoriginal Marconi 365 key which had acomplex system of phased contacts. Itcould have been cheaper to leave thesecond adjuster in place rather that re-engineer the key, possibly other makerssimply copied this arrangement.

Incidentally is there arecommended way to set up a key whichhas two sets of gap adjusters?

Gerald Stancey, G3MCKRutland, UK

91/[9Vf86 - Jud] 2005

GBR Final Transmission

Does anyone have a recording of thelast transmission of GBR that I couldarrange to copy please. Please contactCyril Markie. 172 Daventry Road,Coventry CV3 SHN. UK. Phone +44(0) 2476-5041126.

MM85 Info Please Italian KeyWith reference to the illustration onpage 36 of MMSS of what is thought tobe an Italian key. It so happens that I

have one which appears to be identical.It was sent to me by an Italian

friend. IZBFF. Unfortunately there isno provenance as to origin but itcertainly looks pre—war.

The lead is brown cottoncovered, twin lead to a two pin plug,which is a black plastic moulding withTwin brass split pins.

The key is virtually allaluminium with four horizontal holesalong the arm and the knob is blackplastic with a skirt.

The base is lightweight hollowbrown Bakelite.

Markings: A figure 6,underlined, followed by figures ‘250’and on the opposite side, a triangularbadge with a square cross insert.

With the key came a warningfrom its previous owner: “ Not forcedAluminium screw. The old oxide isvery strong!!"

IZBFF is a keen Morse keycollector so it is quite possible that it isfrom that country. I will try and findout.

E. F. Jones, G3EUEWest Sussex, UK

MM86 — _7u@ 2003

Interested in Stock-Tickers

Do you own an old stock ticker? Areyou interested in old stock tickers? I

am compiling a list of ticker owners sothat we may swap information. history,production change information. partsandjust general knowledge and interest.

Any model that prints on papertape is applicable. Send an email toeugene_hertz@yahoo.com to join thelist. Or drop a letter to Eugene Hertz. 23Summit Terrace. Dobbs Ferry, NY10522, USA.

Trains, Times & Telegraphs

Regarding the article in MM85. page15, "Trains Times & Telegraphsl”,Figure l, right-hand picture of the clockface lettering. When I first enteredWellington Telegraph Office in 1946(after war service in the RNZAF). thissame clock code system was still in useon New Zealand Morse circuits.The first line (preamble) from thedistant station (via a sounder) wastranscribed on the message form inpencil! It would be something like this:OT BGR DARGAVILLE 16 or OT(ordinary telegram) 2.36 PMDARGAVILLE(the distant town) and 16 words in theaddress. text and signature.Any figures in the message would beconfirmed by the receiving operatorbefore receiving the next message.Urgents would have ‘DOT' followingthe lodging station and 16/1 in theword count. Money orders would be‘MOT‘ or ‘UMOT‘ (transcribed withviolet ink pencil on a special form).

45

Savings messages would be ‘SBT' or‘USBT‘ and the reply would be ‘RSBT‘or ‘URSBT‘.Each telegraphist had to be fluent indeciphering the lettered lodgementtime to transcribe on the form to bedelivered. This cumbersome timecoding system was dispensed withwhen most Morse lines were closeddown in favour of machiIre—printing.The preamble was rationalised to:H246 l6 DARGAVILLE 2.36PM,placing the word count and anyinstructions after the channel number.From memory, this happened in themid 19505.

Neville Copeland, ZLZAKVUpper Hutt, New Zealand

MM 84 “H. White” Key

With regard to the request forinformation about the ‘H. White‘ keyon page 32 of MM84 I can stronglyrecommend the interesting bookletentitled “A history of the GPO Mark1.2 and 3"on by Dennis Goacher. It isfull of technical information on thiskey design and others in use by theGPO. A list of manufacturers is alsoincluded. It is available from the MMBookshelf.

Fons Vanden BerghenHalle, Belgium

599 in Malta

Recently I was in holiday in Maltawithout any radio equipment but stillreceived CW without my rig! Theattached photo explains how.

Rolf von AIImen, HB9DGVOstermundigen, Switzerland

Inappropriate TelephoneJingle

Just a note about telephone jingles. I

remember one provider‘s networktransmitting ‘CONNECTINGPEOPLE‘in CW over its phones, although I'venot heard it for a while.

Chris Mortimer, GQWBCLeicester, UK

THEMORSE ENTHUSIASTS GROUP SCOTLANDMEGS was formed in 1991 to encourage the use of Morse. especially bynewcomers. Regular skeds are held using our callsign ‘GMORSE‘ each Monday andThursday from 7 until 9 pm. (local time) around 3.53OMHZ. Among other services.we offer Morse practice tapes free of charge. other than postage. This offer is nowalso available to MM readers. Membership is open worldwide. the ‘Scotland‘ in ourtitle simply shows place of origin. Lifetime membership £1.00.Details from Secretary: G.l\[. Allan GM-lHYF, 22 Tynwald Avenue,Rutherglen. Glasgow G73 4RN, Scotland.

46 MM86 —My 2003

The Art & Skill of RadioTelegraphy

by William G. Pierpont, NQHFFAcomprehensive manual torleaming, using,mastering,improving and enjoying International Morse Code.PubRadio Amateur Educational Society (RAES) ofCanada,236 pp. 5.5 x 8.5 inches (14 x 21.5 cm) withcoilbinding.

SHIPPED AIR MAIL FROM CANADA$16.00 USD USA 526.00 CDN Canada$19.50 USDWorld £13.40 GBP UK

GIANTPRINTversion - 7 x 11 inch. two column.$25.00 USD USA $36.00 CDN Canadian Delivery$33.00 USDWorld £22.00 GBP UK

Send orders to: Radio Amateur Educational Society.8607 - 34AAvenue. Edmonton. Alberta, Canada- T6K089. E-mail: orders@raes.ab.ca Please be sure toinclude your return mailingaddress. Pleaseencloseacheque. money order or IRC in the correct amountpayable to the Radio Amateur Educational Society or(RAES).CODorders willnotbe accepted. You mayalsouse PayPal- URL http://www.paypal.com/ using thefollowingaccount: orders @ raes.ab.ca

fienérsflld}'

Readers advertisements are free to MMsubscribers. The number of insertions should bespecified. otherwise it will be assumed that it isrequired in the next issue only. Non-subscribersare welcome to advertise in the Classified Adssection. Please contact MM for styles availableand rates.Ads can include one photo free of charge

FOR SALE & WANTEDFOR SALE: All issues of MorsumMagnificat from Issue 1. Also thespecial issue of Q & Z Codes in 1988.Most in mint condition. Buyer mustcollect or alrange carriage. Offers. F.R. Hamilton, G4IAV. 329 N01’th Road,Atherton, M46 ORF. Tel: +44 (0)1 942870954.MM86 —]u@ 2003

\VANTED: I am interested in(somewhat special) telegraphyapparatus. Swap or buy. Thanks! FonsVanden Berghen, Lenniksesteenweg462/22, B-1500 HALLE. Belgium.E—mail:

fons.vandenberghen@pandora.bewww.faradic.net/~gsraven/fons_images/fons_museum.htmlI HAVE much telegraph surplusincluding NOS 19505 US NavyFlameproofs - CMI & CJB 26003A -$65 including USA mail; slightly higherelsewhere. Also includes copy of keysllpage milspec. Dr. Joe Jacobs. 5Yorktown Place. Northport. NY—11768. U.S.A. Phone +1-631-261-1576‘. Fax +1-754—46l6. E-mail:joekey@aol.comFOR SALE NSW BOOK:“Radiotelegraph and RadiotelephoneCodes. Prowords and Abbreviations"3i‘d Edition (236 pages). 610 gm (1.5lbs). now available. Probably theWorld‘s best compilation of this infonow available. Q.X.Z Codes. 142Phonetics, 24 Morse. 8 Needle codes.Myer, Phillips. 10, 11. 12, 13 and othercodes. Much other info. abbreviations.procedures and methods. Price AU$25+ p&p. (in Australia $7.50) Internet:httD://\vww.sarc.ore.au/sarc1/phonetichtm John Alcorn. VKZJWA,QTHR. Phone +61 - 02-66215217vk2jwa@sarc.org.auTEXTBOOK\VANTED: Handbook ofTechnical Instruction for WirelessTelegraphists. seventh edition (1942 -44) edition by Dowsett and Williams(Iliffe). A good price is offered, pluspostage costs. David Smith. ZL2BBB,

47

KWWPO Box 255, Hastings, New Zealand.dhs@c1ear.net.nzFASZINATIONMORSETASTEN -

German Telegraph Keys Collector‘sGuide, 180 p., 400 photos & diagrams,250 key designs from more than 100manufacturers in German speakingcountries. .2500 plus ~4.10 postageand packing. Greg Ulsamer, LogumerStr. 66, D-26723 Emden, Germany. E—

mail: d11bfe@emsnet.de"

TELEGRAMSFOR SALE from 1901to 1955. A number of them are withadvertisements and some oncommemorative forms. Ranjit Singh,AN—18—c Shalimar Bagh, Delhi-110088, India. E-mail:singh_ranjit70@hotmai1.comwww.indiatelecards.netWANTED: Early paddles such as theNikey. Autronic, Ham-key HKl 8; HK2.Ray Bullock, 40 Little Harlescott Lane,Shrewsbury SYl 3PY,England.Tel: +44(0) 1743 245896.

WANTED TO BUY: GPO Type 56key and Marconi side-lever Morse keywith brass hardware on a wooden base.Letters to: D. Johnson, W5FZ. 15514Ensenada Drive, Houston, TX 77083—

5008, USA. Or Email: w5fz@arrl.net

I AM A KEY COLLECTORwith over300 different keys from 20 countries andhave 50 keys available for swapping.Write to Henri Heraud. F6AOU 9Avenue de Bellevue. 91130 RISORANGIS. FRANCE.48

WANTED: Back issues of MorsumMagnificat. Volumes 1 thm 23. 25, 27,28 and 30 are needed. Please contactDennis P. Skea, KCZCCZ, 25 ArgentDrive, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603,USA. +1 (845) 298 - 0951E—mail: KC2CCZ@arrl.netWANTED TO BUY: Telegraphic CodeBooks, as used to reduce the costs oftelegrams by replacing common phraseswith codewords. Would be interestedin both originals or photocopies. I am ahobbyist in Cryptography and amfacinated in different ways data is andhas been represented for differentpurposes (e.g. speed, economy,confidentiality etc.) Also interested inrelated items. Letters to Mark Darling.132 Knowlands, Highwonh, SN6 7NE,United Kingdom or e-mail:darling@patrol.i-way.c0.ukEXCHANGE: I have MM magazines,issues 36—80inc(45mags)to exchange fora Vibroplex double-paddle. Can collect/deliver in UK. Phone Keith +44 (0)7946-663109.FOR SALE: Morsum Magnificat nos6, 9-1 1, 13-54, 56, 58, 60—76. 65 copies£125 o.n.o. including postage andpacking. Geoff Newland, 32 The Grove,Winscombe, North Somerset B525 lJH.Telephone (mobile) 07802 786564. E—

mail: MM@GeoffNew1and.co.uk

FOR SALE: MM issues 41 — 83complete as new, Offers for the lot.Heathkit Electronic Keyer Model HD1410 unmarked with manual, offers,plus carriage. E. H. Trowell G2HKU,‘Hamlyn‘, Saxon Avenue, Minster,Sheerness, Kent, ME12 2RP, UK.Telephone 01795 873100.

MM86 - ju[y 2003

HERIVA/1’03”find of/um/‘IIMel/arse Code

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Bernard’s Method of Learning Morse Code ( Wyn Davies)

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Catalogue page for the GPO Double Current Key (Lee Grant)