[CW] Some bug speed measurements

[Richard Knoppow]

    Work in progress. I have a General Radio 631-B stroboscope. I used 
it to measure some bug speeds optically. Unfortunately its not the BL 
version with an extra-slow-speed range. I was able to confirm that the 
minimum speed of my Bunnell J-36 is about 31 WPM. This is using 10 dots 
per second to equal 24 WPM. Maximum speed with the weight all the way at 
the dot spring end of the pendulum is about 50 WPM. With a stair gauge 
added to the square weight, square weight at the damper end, it is about 
25 WPM. The 631B range goes down to 600 RPM which is not quite slow 
enough to measure minimum speed on most bugs but I can interpolate the 
scale and find minimum of my 1921 Original is around 20 WPM and Lionel 
J-36 about 25 WPM. Maximum speed of the Lionel key and the Original with 
one weight only at the dot end of the pendulum are both around 50 WPM. I 
will later try some measurements with a counter. A scope would be ideal 
but at the moment I don't have a working one. I did want to verify that 
the Bunnell key is faster than most others, they have that reputation.
    The stroboscope allows me to see the motion of the pendulum and dot 
spring in slow motion.
-- 
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998