[CW] Vibroplex Use on Ships, Coastal Radio Stations & Aircraft

[David J. J. Ring, Jr.]

It was the USA radiotelegraphers operators who popularized using a 
Vibroplex. The UK General Post Office who ran the coast stations of 
Ireland and the United Kingdom, actually prohibited all "speed keys" but 
around the 1970s these regulations were relaxed and I'd hear keyers and 
semi-automatic keys on from the UK commercial stations.  However the UK 
operators took deserved pride in their use of the straight key, they 
mostly used "pump handle keys" - that is the ones with contacts at the 
back of the key after the pivoting fulcrum. The PS-213A was the classic 
UK coast station key, Germany used their excellent Junker keys, at least 
after WWIi.

I found that the countries that used Marconi equipment - which were 
mainly UK Empire stations (now "Commonwealth) stations) used the long 
lever keys.  USA, Germany, and nearby countries used to low American 
profile keys.  New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, used the pump handle 
keys, Japan mostly used pump handle keys.  Canada was the odd duck 
country because half of their stations were outfitted by American 
suppliers who used the E.F. Johnson (later Nye Viking) type keys, and 
Marconi who used the 365 model keys from the 1940s, the 365B was the 
best key, but when supplies were expended, Marconi started making the 
365EZ (with contact filter) and 365FZ (no filter).

FCC and ITU regulations required that radiotelegraphy stations on land, 
sea and air be "full break in" that is being able to hear between dots.  
This meant - at least for all ships - using relays and shunts for spark 
and arc, and relays for continuous wave transmitters.  Coast stations 
that were often separated by 30 miles with separate transmit and receive 
locations didn't have to have relays that were able to "hear between 
dots" because that was taken care of simply because the two sites were 
30 miles away, but if they were at the one and only location, they'd 
have the same noisy relays - often running on 130 volts.

So after vacuum tube transmitters were common, at least USA ships 
started taking Vibroplex keys to sea.  I took my Vibroplex Original to 
sea, later I took a Curtis EK-430 keyer which i modified with a CP CLARE 
relay HGJM series rated 50VA at 200 volts.

USCG and USN required a "speed key certificate" - merchant ships just 
had to be able to use the key! Some of us were as good as the USCG and 
Navy operators with a speed key, but they were excellent.

There were two types of Radio Station installation.  One had the radio 
equipment in front of the operator, with a two level desktop, two high 
parts on the right and left of center, and in the center a depression in 
which a typewriter was provided, so that the keys were at the right 
height for use at an operator sitting at the operating desk facing the 
equipment.

Such an arrangement is seen on NV SAVANNAH/KSAV - the only nuclear 
merchant ship from the USA.  First photo.

1.jpg

This type station was generally mounted fore and aft ships so that the 
typewriter carriage would be thwart ships and would only act up when the 
ship pitched (bow / stern movement). A Vibroplex positioned on the right 
(or left) would have to be angled 45 degrees in weather where the ship 
rolled.  A pencil on the surface would move from side to side (and into 
the typing well) when the ship rolled.

Training Ship TS EMPIRE STATE IV / WHMW (State of New York Maritime 
School vessel used by Massachusetts Maritime after a fire on their ship

2.jpg

In this 1982 photo, you can see an example of a ship radio station that 
is mounted thwart-ships and a typewriter "L" furnished so that the 
typewriter is thwart-ships and the typewriter carriage is in line with 
the keel of the ship to minimize problems with the typewriter carriage 
moving when the ship rolled sideways. In the photo is radio officer, 
David J. Ring, Jr. at 31 years of age (40 years ago.)  In my right hand 
is my Vibroplex Original Deluxe which I carried to sea in my luggage 
until I retired. Behind me is the ship's MILL - probably a Remington. A 
ITT/Mackay 3020 receiver is in front of me to my left, the ship's 
410-512 kHz main transmitter is above the Vibroplex, and one of the 
other transmitters is above the ITT/Mackay 3020 receiver, I can't see 
clearly which, either the HF CW or the battery emergency transmitter for 
500 kHz.

Of course at coastal stations there was no rolling or pitching to 
contend with, and here in this photo is Radio Officer Antonio Iaccarino 
at Rome (Roma) Radio / IAR sending on his personal Vibroplex..  You can 
also see next to it, Roma Radio's excellent station key which were 
PS-213 type keys often manufactured by Italian machinists.

3.jpg


73
DR
*N1EA*


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