It was standard English language press copy. The change to using 5-character random groups came later, because it was recognized that native language English speakers had an advantage because of anticipation and word memory. There are good descriptions on Casale's site, (don't remember call at moment) describing the Grand National contest held around the turn of the century. The copy had to be turned in correctly formatted as well as letter perfect. 

Very interesting read, remembering that Martin's Autoplex, then Vibroplex, we're created in that cauldron of high end Morse, New York, at the same time. Nobody gave up the guest for speed because they might develop an arm problem :-) 

On Mon, Sep 12, 2022, 7:09 AM Bill Lanahan <wa2nfn@gmail.com> wrote:
What type of copy was used for these contests? I’d assume you can’t copy too far behind if it were code groups or an unknown language, but that’s a guess on my part ( to me a couple of letters is behind ;-().

Great history, Tnx to both of you. 

73 wa2nfn

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 11, 2022, at 9:41 PM, Joseph L. Pontek Sr. <v31jp1957@gmail.com> wrote:



Did you ever sit down and chat with Ted, while drinking? He could
consume quite a bit. I did, myself, back in those days, but I think he
out paced me!  8^) We were not racing and that is something I never
did, but I did drink a lot back in those days. No, we did not do CW
after, but he had no ill signs from drinking.

My late wife could type 155 WPM from dictation, similar to converting
from CW to typing, you hear, then you spell out a word and then type.
I know she typed quite a ways behind what she was hearing. I am not
a typist, but she typed many of my letters when I was a manager, mainly
because she hated my slow typing back then. 8^) I have little doubt Ted
could do as claimed. I remember when my copy speed as at its highest,
I was thinking if could touch type, mt CW copy might have even gotten
higher. Twil never know.

73, Joe, K8JP/K5

On 9/11/2022 6:50 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
These claims I always found difficult to believe but they came from
reliable sources, but they were all suitably embellished, like Ted
McElroy drinking a half pint of gin then letting the code test begin,
-- 
Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Martin & Sidney Pontek
175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
U.S.A.
903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)

Member FOC-1743 Feb 2001, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, American Legion, A1OP, CFO 1055, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
Facebook: Joe Pontek
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