[CW] Bug differences affecting Speed

[Richard Knoppow]

    I am not sure which list the recent discussion of bug differences 
was in. Can't find it so will post here as a likely place.
    Part of the discussion was of the main spring, i.e. the spring on 
which the pendulum oscillates. I found on three or four they were about 
the same in dimensions and thickness. However, I got curious about the 
length of the pendulum from what I will call the hinge point of the 
spring to the damper contact and the maximum length from the hinge to 
the weight or weights. I am calling the end of the spring that is 
clamped to the non-moving lever arm the hinge point, since that seems to 
be where the movement originates. Well, found the distance was not the 
same. The Original and my Bunnell J-36, of the "Flash Key" type are just 
about the same at 3.3 inches while the Lionel J-36 is 3.6 inches. Now, 
the curious thing is that the Bunnell key is significantly faster than 
the other two. The Bunnell key is not exactly a Flash key but bears some 
similarity having a lower frame but has a flat pendulum like the 
Lightening Bug and Lionel J-36.  The slowest of these three is the 
Original but its also by far the oldest, 1920, and the spring likely is 
fatigued. It goes down to about 20 WPM. The Lionel J-36 goes down to 
maybe 25 WPM and the Bunnell J-36 to about 30 WPM. I have a couple of 
other Originals, much newer, which go down to maybe 25 WPM and I suspect 
this is the design intent. In any case I will make more measurements. 
While the distances look the same on casual examination they are not. 
How much, if any, effect this has on speed is yet to be determined.
    I hope this is of some interest.
    I used a vernier caliper of good quality to make the measurements.
-- 
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998