[CW] Bugs on board ship

[John GM4SLV]

Hello all,

I've never tried a mechanical bug, but have always been fascinated by
them. Recently I've set aside my paddles and am trying to operate
solely with a straight key, if it was good enough for generations of
pro R/Os it's good enough for me(?)

I got to thinking about the move from straight keys to bugs and thence
to electronic keyers in the commercial CW world. Presumably there was
quite a long period when mechanical bugs were widely used, but was this
only on shore, or also at sea?

Assuming they were used at sea, what effect did the motion of the
vessel have on the swinging pendulum that forms the dots? I'd have
thought it would be difficult to prevent the arm swinging in time with
the rolling and pitching of the ship?

My old CW teacher had been a R/O in the merchant navy in the 50s & 60s
but he was a dyed in the wool straight key man, don't think he ever
dabbled in the dark arts of bugs and electronic keys, but I'll ask him
next time I write to him (we still keep in touch by snail mail).

On the wider subject of bugs I happened to record an MP3 file off air on
30m at the weekend (just left the recorder running while I was out of
the shack) and when I listened to it back there was a long QSO between
a DL and a PA - both using bugs! Sounded great - each had their own
fist, unlike electronics, but were sending at a reasonable speed,
unlike a straight key. Best of both worlds?!  

Ebay here I come...!

Cheers,

John GM4SLV
-- 
G-GRP-Club 2377, QRP-ARCI 12384, SKCC 3214
Member : RSGB, ARRL
Shetland Islands (EU-012) IP90GG 
Lerwick Radio Club : http://www.gm3zet.org