[CW] Another bug weight question

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

Richard,

You always amaze me with your observations and descriptive vocabulary.  It
isn't every day, an occasion comes up to use bi-conical, never mind pine
cone or balsam.

I would think the vibrations, caused by resonances, pounding pistons,
battering winds and slapping hulls against waves would never have a great
effect on the slope of the sides of the bored out hole on a pendulum weight.

I think it's much more likely that the "by feel method" of inserting the
weight over the end of the vibrator rod, it softened the shoulder each
time, each time in a different position, eventually, making a near perfect
circle, flanging it gently with each insertion?

Does your key have the smaller contacts of the older telegraph landline
models, or the stouter "radio model" that had heavier contacts.

Most of my 1910-1930 keys are landline keys, most newer ones were radio
models.

At some time Vibroplex stopped offering heavier contacts as an option.

Now the shorting switch is no longer being made, it was used by railroad
landline operators to close the circuit when not in use.  The operator
actually had to break the circuit to start communications. The sounders
would all drop in all the stations on the line, so they knew someone would
start sending.  The lighter contacts weighed less and made a snappy crisp
action.

Anyone else have a theory of the widening of the holes in the weights?

Perhaps a musical composition rivaling the music of the spheres?

Wishing you all a bi-conical ice cream cone evening.

73

DR
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