[CW] Weights for bugs as sold by Tony Martin W4FOA
Gregory W, Moore
gwmoore at moorefelines.com
Tue Aug 31 23:55:53 EDT 2004
GM, All.
Many thanks for the suggestion on the Lightning Bug mod. I do believe
I will give it a try, as I have always found the flat spring on the
Lightning rather sensitive to weight position, and the dot speed was
always high and out of proportion regardless of what speed one was
attempting to operate.
As I stated in the orig inal msg, I have, and am proud of, my
Navy/Banana Boat swing, but one has to be realistic about dot speed. It
impresses, nor should it, to rip off dots at exctemely high speed, and
then slow your dashes down to the speed you are actuallly sending. A
litle swing is OK, too much sounds like the key has gone nutz
--hi--..... I like correctly proportioned characters, but still want to
be known as a "bug" sender and not an electronic key sender, even if my
Icom is perfectly capable of reproducing any bug known in "Bug-Key"
setting...
I thank you for your suggestion, and I will fabricate one of those items
and see if it fills the bill.. I spend so darn much time on MARS that I
have to make time to have some fun, drop back to the amateur bands,
crank some paper in the commo mill, and the years roll away, until it
feels like "back in the day, when us RM types actually earned our keep
by copying gud CW for hrs on end, and darned well enjoyed it --hi--. We
had, at several of my duty stations, afloat, ashore, and in the air as
radio op in P3's a communications Officer who wanted all the RM's to
stay proficient, fast, and accurate, with CW, and so issued orders that
we were to copy anything (usually press, or wx) for at least 3 hours
every watch, duties permitting.... Said comm officers could often be
seen at the mill themselves, keeping their own skills active, and many
were also hams and Com'l; ticket holders as well, so CW rreally was
taken seriously (early to end of '60's). We were also encouraged to work
as much MF as possible, and stay proficient with merchant and civilian
shore station procedures and idiosyncracies.... it was a fun time, and
since I wore a lot of hats with most every duty in a communications
setting, I did what I loved to do and actually got paid for it... who
can beat that --hi--
When one was doing 10-11 month deployments to WestPac (Read Vietnam),
and worked long days on the line, one sure as heck had to enjoy what one
was doing, for between enjoying the duty, and the continual letter
writing to the XYL (yup, still the XYL after 36 years--hi--) it kept one
going.
Anyhow, enough of this screed, thanks much for the design of the speed
adjustor, and off topic, please check out the signature at the bottom of
this msg, go to the USS America Museum Foundation website, and sign our
petition, help us lobby the elected officials, and help a group of very
tenacious vets save our ship for a museum (CW is going to be a big part
of the MainComm exhibit, along with RATT and message handling, as well
as hopefully a MARS station [No CW there, but traffic will still be
passed]... Tnx much for your support!!
73 es tnx de Greg WA3IVX /NNN0BVN
Barbara Maloney wrote:
> Hi GW, I have a lightning and a champion with the square weight. You
> can make an effective "extension" weight from a piece of flat bar
> stock of about the same width as the weight and about 1-1/2 inch long,
> from 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. Drill hole near one end the same
> distance that the threaded hole in the weight is from the front of the
> weight. With a short #8 screw and flat washers if necessary secure the
> bar to the underside of the weight, allowing the extension to parallel
> the vibrating bar on the underside. This trick should accomplish what
> you want to do, by just moving the stock weight with added bar.
> 73, Mike, AC5P
>
> "Gregory W, Moore" <gwmoore at moorefelines.com> wrote:
>
> Gentlemen,
> Is it possible to get Tony's email addy, etc, so that I may
> contact him
> re getting a second weight for a Lightning Bug, as you know, these
> are
> square weights, and I believe I may have purchased a speed adjustment
> device from him before, which was a weight on a shaft, with a ring
> terminal at the base which fit under the securing nut for the
> origianal
> weight, and could be bent to various angles for precision adjstment.
> However, I would like a second weight, the better to control dot
> speed,
> (Yes, I have a pronounced Navy/Banana Boat swing, of which I am
> proud,
> since I learned in the good old Navy of the USA, and from working
> with
> the USCG at their ice patrol HQ in Argentia, Nfld
> NIK/NJN which was co-located with NAVCOMMSTA Argentia, Nfld, (NWP)...
> Since I spent a few years there, and we traded off duties, I became
> prof! icient at wrkng MF with the merchies, calling on 500 and
> shifitng
> down to 427 and 432, working their way, with their idiosyncracies, as
> well as working Navy regulation.... I am proud to have gotten my
> speed
> key cert CLF-23 signed off by a Coastie RM!, Bob Finken, whos
> "test" was
> simply to put me at a mill, have a merchie already in contact, and
> then
> reaching over my shoulder, and with a devlish grin and malice
> aforethough, sending PSE QRQ OM........and this poor dude spent the
> better part of 10 mins hanging on to the mill with my fingertips and
> teeth... I did copy several messages though, and was deemed
> "Worthy" of
> speed key certificate, I don't believe this was the "controlled" test
> specified, but someone told me at one point I was around 45 WPM,
> but I
> doubt this, because I have never been able to do 45
> again......adreneline is a powerful memory stimulant --hi--......
>
> At any rate, I would like another weight for the Lightning Bu! g,
> because
> this is the one presented to me by the Navy, and I have had it for
> a L O
> T of years, just had it completely rebuilt by Vibroplex, and it is in
> "like new' condition, I even managed to get a cord and wedge
> recently,
> as I never had one before, off of that E site..... I always made
> do with
> pieces of wire, or on some positions, a 1/4 in phone jack that was
> provided for such connections, as the keys were flameproof, and had no
> place to use a wedge, nor were the connectors open...
>
> If you can provide me with the info on his email, etc, I would
> appreciate same
> 73 es tnx de Greg "GW" Moore WA3IVX / NNN0BVN
>
> Ed wrote:
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Sherrill Watkins"
> >To:
> >Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 4:37 PM
> >Subject: [CW] Weights for bugs as sold by Tony Martin W4FOA
> >
> >
> >Gentlemen: Be advised that I received two of the ! weights for
> the Vibroplex
> >type "Bugs" from Tony Martin in todays mail. I have examined
> these and they
> >look professional and well made. I recommend Tony for anyone needing
> >additional weights to control a bug or when restoring one if the
> weights are
> >missing. Tony's appear to be machined from solid stainless steel!
> (I think
> >the factory units are plated mild steel or brass?) They are
> drilled and
> >tapped with a Allen type cap screw to secure them to the
> vibrating leaver.
> >Even the Allen screws appear to be stainless steel, but I cannot
> tell for
> >sure. Try them and you will like them! (Note-these will not correct a
> >"rotten
> >fist"; sorry.) - 73- Sherrill W. k4own.
> >
> >Sherrill and the CW Group
> >
> >I consider myself a lucky person, as I regard Tony W4FOA as a
> close personal
> >friend. He was gracious enough to let me "use" a couple of these
> weights.
> >They are indeed stainless and were made at ! a local machine
> shop. Tony is
> >selling these at his cost plus a little to cover packaging and
> mailing, all
> >in an effort to promote the use of not only CW, but bugs. I have
> one on my
> >personal 1954 Vibroplex and another on a Les Logan that Tony was
> gracious
> >enough to "loan" to me. Anyone that knows Tony regards him as a
> true CW op
> >and a true ham thru and thru. 73 ..
> >
> >Ed W3NR
> >
> >CW from beautiful downtown Chickamauga, Ga
> >
> >I have no financial interest in this project, just an admiration
> for a
> >fellow CW op and ham.
> >
> >
> >---
> >Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> >Version: 6.0.742 / Virus Database: 495 - Release Date: 8/19/2004
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >CW mailing list
> >CW at mailman.qth.net
> >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> >
> >
> >
> --
>
> Happily turning electricity into RF energy for almost 40 years,
> on land, sea and air, professional and amateur,
> around the clock and around the world. KEEP CW ALIVE!
> Become an Elmer today!!!
>
> "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do
> nothing."
> --Edmund Burke
>
> Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
> U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
> Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
> http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
> Official Northeast Area Website:
> http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
> Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
> E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn at navymars.org
> E-Mail (ARRL) wa3ivx at arrl.net
> ******************************************************************************************************
>
> PRESERVATIONS OFFICER: USS AMERICA (CV/CVA-66) Museum Foundation
> Please visit us on the web at
> http://www.ussamerica-museumfoundation.org
>
> Sign our petition, lobby ! your elected representatives, help save
> a piece of history,
> and stop her from being ignominously sunk for target practice!!!!
> Time is running out !!
> USS AMERICA MUSEUM FOUNDATION: WORKING CEASELESSLY TO SAVE
> "AMERICA'S FLAGSHIP"
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CW mailing list
> CW at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
>
--
Happily turning electricity into RF energy for almost 40 years,
on land, sea and air, professional and amateur,
around the clock and around the world. KEEP CW ALIVE!
Become an Elmer today!!!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
--Edmund Burke
Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
Official Northeast Area Website:
http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn at navymars.org
E-Mail (ARRL) wa3ivx at arrl.net
******************************************************************************************************
PRESERVATIONS OFFICER: USS AMERICA (CV/CVA-66) Museum Foundation
Please visit us on the web at http://www.ussamerica-museumfoundation.org
Sign our petition, lobby your elected representatives, help save a piece of history,
and stop her from being ignominously sunk for target practice!!!!
Time is running out !!
USS AMERICA MUSEUM FOUNDATION: WORKING CEASELESSLY TO SAVE "AMERICA'S FLAGSHIP"
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