[Fists] Source of the "bug"

[W1EOF]

One of the local guys down in Alabama emailed Vibroplex about
bug history and got this reply back --

"You will love this!  Copying from "Vibroplex Collector's Guide" by 
Tom French, page 8..."A manual semi-automatic telegraph key generates 
dots automatically.  Dashes are generated individually by the 
operator.  Horace Martin was the first to use the term 
"semi-automatic" in relation to such a key, doing so in his 1904 
patent, no. 767,303.  This type of key is also called a bug or speed 
key.  The term "bug" originated with late 19th century commercial 
telegraph operators to denote an incompetent operator.  Because 
operators would sometimes use the popular Vibroplex without 
sufficient practice before getting on the wire, the key was referred 
to as a bug's key; the term was eventually used to refer to the key 
itself".  So now you know the rest of the story.  By the way, we are 
hoping to have the 100th Anniversary Bug ready to introduce on the 
patent date August 9, 2004.  Thanks for the interest.  Betsy @ 
Vibroplex.com"

>From Tom NU4G on the GlowBugs list. Some of you guys may have already
known that, but I didn't before now. Interesting. 

73,

Mark W1EOF