[CW] What is a Sideswiper, or Cootie Key?

[Joe Pontek Sr]

Hi, Richard, et al.

One thing I did was like you, measured the thickness of many bug main 
springs  I found them to vary a lot more then in your experience. 
Interestingly,
I measured and compared their individual measured deflections with a 
spring scale.  I not have my recorded measurements anymore, but I remember
there were three with the same thickness, ie. 0.0130" that varied a fair 
amount.  I have been replacing broken springs for some time, using 
feeler gauge
material.  I have/had a good stock of it.  I know at one time, Vibroplex 
would made runs of material that was on hand, but I think that was even 
before
WW II.  Running landline telegraphy, dits were not as critical as with 
CW on a radio, scratch seldom noticed.

How I did my measurement was:
The main bar held in a clamp so the main spring was vertical, ie. no 
gravity involved in the deflection.
I positioned a post to deflect to, about the same as a normal dot swing 
deflection.
I used a little battery operated buzzer and attached the circuit to the 
post and main bar.  It sounded so I did not have to watch a meter.
I used my spring gauge like I used so many times to measure relay spring 
contact tensions, off the end off the pendulum bar.

Conclusion: Though the spring materials were the same thickness (both 
ways, by the way) and length, the tensions were quite different.  
Conclusion,
the materials were different or produced differently.  Like there is a 
difference between stainless and straight steel gauge material.

73, Joe, K8JP

On 4/12/2018 6:01 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:
>
>  I tried swapping weights around, no change. So, what can be 
> difference?  The strength of the springs probably due to spring 
> material. I measured them using a spring scale:
> 1944 3 oz
> 1961 2 oz
> 1920 1 oz
>    These are approximate although I did try to make the deflection equal.
>    In general springs weaken with flexing not when under constant 
> tension or pressure. The main springs in a bug don't undergo much 
> flexure and certainly never get close to the elastic limit of the 
> spring unless its accidentally stretched somehow.
>    I don't think the added return force of the dot contact can affect 
> the speed that much but I can measure the pendulum speed without the 
> dot spring making contact by using the stroboscope. Maybe will do that 
> but I don't think it will make any difference.
>       Thank you for putting me on this minor scientific investigation. 
> Maybe I an expand it into a master's thesis.
>    I don't have an answer but its an interesting puzzle. 

-- 
Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Marty & Sidney Pontek
175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
U.S.A.
or
P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
(Hopkins Village) Belize

903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)
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Also, K8JP, member FOC-1743, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
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I am looking for Vibroplex Model X, Double lever and prefer basket cases to restore.
LotW