[CW] Sideswiper Patent

[Richard Knoppow]

     I my recent patent searches (for other things) I ran across 
one that may be of interest. It is
USP 776160  issued Nov 29, 1904
    I don't know if this is the original sideswiper key but is an 
interesting design in any case and may be the first.
    It has an arrangement for adjusting the tension of the main 
spring. I think Bunnell used a similar method on their 
sideswiper. There are no references to prior art.
     I find the date interesting because it was around this time 
that Martin and others began to apply for patents on 
semi-automatic keys, the early ones using solenoid actuation. My 
guess is that there was some demand for keys that would reduce 
the stressful labor of rapid sending. Also, I have not researched 
the date of the appearance of keyboard operated tape punches and 
automatic senders but I think it may have been around this time. 
There was also a good deal of activity in the development of 
printing telegraph methods such as the Teletype machine. These 
were different from the very early printing telegraph methods 
that dated virtually from the beginning of the magnetic telegraph.
    Any patent can be found at Google Patents.

-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL