[GreenKeys] Re: Fw: Teletypewriters, part 2

[Don Robert House]

Thanks for the memories Greg!

I still have to spend time on the three FOX generators I have. None 
of them work at the present time.  If I can get two working I will 
ship one to you.

Thanks for sharing.
Don



>You wrote:
>
>"...This was exactly right.  The human backup was deemed extremely 
>important.  Now,
>as an interesting aside, I have a good deal of AUTODIN experience. 
>This, of course, was a seamless meld of torn tape/mechanical 
>technology, and computers.  While stationed at NAVCOMMSTA (formerly 
>NAVCOMMUNIT) Argentia, Nfld, I worked in many hats, as a Facilities 
>Controller, Message Center Supervisor, Crypto Operator/ Repair 
>(offline and online systems), Teletype Repair, Electronics Repair, 
>Receiver Site Supervisor, Transmitter Site Supervisor, as well as 
>High Speed CW operator, and other duties too numerous to mention. 
>The Navy never left me bored for even one picosecond--hi--.
>
>    I feel fortunate that I was in the right place at the right time 
>to gain this experience, and even GET PAID for doing it (NO,
>at the time, I really didn't know what "good money" was, nor the 
>amount I should expect if I were to do this kind of stuff in the 
>Private Sector).  I later served aboard the USS America (CV/CVA-66) 
>in basically the same positions, and made darn sure that regardless 
>of my rank/rate that I "got my hands dirty" and didn't just warm a 
>desk and shout orders.
>
>Incidentally, all the gear was Haze Gray, as would be expected, and 
>most of the spaces ashore were in the usual Gov't scheme of 1/2 Gray 
>walls, with a trim strip (sometimes) with the upper half white. The 
>shipboard spaces were usually all white. This, combined with the 
>overwhelming glare of cool white fluorescent lamps, and the constant 
>din of fans, teletypes, alarms, the 1MC
>announcing each evolution, left one in rather a dazed state--hi--. 
>The only escape was to (if you were one of the "priveleged few") 
>escape into the "inner sanctum" of Offline Crypto, turn the lamp 
>switch to "Red", (except when reading certain documents, which, of 
>course, couldn't be read under "red"..... )(Also, There wasn't any 
>1MC speaker in Offline, it was deemed a TEMPEST hazard from the 
>wiring, and therefore was excluded), and mellow out while attempting 
>to decrypt the usual garble (this also allowed stress relief, in the 
>form of screaming at the Cypher Machines, pounding on covers, etc 
>etc..not that it improved message decryption, but it sure helped you 
>to believe that you were actually doing some good).
>
>Incidentally, Don the TDA is now up and operating PERFECTLY!!.  I do 
>have one request, if you have one to spare, or know where one can be 
>obtained, and that is a "Fox Box", any kind will do, as long as I 
>can use it to print the "Fox", Revs, introduce distortion, etc. I 
>don't care what's wired or programmed for the call (the ones I am 
>familar with used to have the call letters programmed by hardwiring 
>a matrix board ( actually, just connecting what was supposed to be 
>"Marks" to the positive V, and the "Spaces" to either -V or Ground, 
>depending on the type of generator), in the unit, I can reprogram it 
>to my desire. I just would like the ability to generate at 
>60-75-100 and at  high and low level loop current.  If you have one 
>of these critters
>let me know.
>
>Anyhow, if you want any more info for this list about 
>Teletype/Ratt/Torn Tape operation during this time period (1960's) 
>let me know, and I will write what you desire.  I will go as far 
>into the crypto end of stuff as I can, without violating security, 
>as there are sites out there now which have posted pictures, and 
>gone into some detail, without, of course, EXACTLY explaining the 
>operation, and the machines they do show have been internally 
>sanitized with all the classified boards removed.  As an additional 
>note to add to history, we used to have spare boards for all the 
>crypto equipment, in cases which weighed about 90 lbs and designed 
>to sink if thrown overboard.  One built up really good upper body 
>strength humping these back and forth from classified stowage, to 
>the devices' location, and back to classified stowage following use. 
>I don't think it's any wonder that I have had hernias on both sides, 
>now repaired--hi-- We later received "destruct units" which would 
>quickly reduce this stuff to molten slag  (After the Pueblo 
>Incident), and of  course, EVERYTHING was retired and replaced after 
>the treachery of the
>&^%$$#@#$$%! Walker Family.
>Let me know if any more history is desired, and what is desired, and 
>I will be more than happy to rack my brain and pass along what 
>history I can.....
>
>73 es tnx
>Greg Moore WA3IVX/ NNN0BVN
>
>NNNN
>
>
>Don Robert House wrote:
>
>>Thanks Ben!
>>Don
>>
>>
>>>An interesting aspect of the military use of teletype 
>>>communications were paper tape relay centers.   Most of them were 
>>>manual, commonly called "torn tape" switching centers.  The 
>>>messages came in through printing reperforators which both punched 
>>>the message in holes and printed it on the tape, between the feed 
>>>holes where there was enough room for a small type face.  Other 
>>>reperforators used "chadless" punch dies which left the chad still 
>>>attached to the tape.  This allowed the use of a larger type face 
>>>for a printing reperforator, as it could print over the same area 
>>>as the code holes.
>>>
>>>I was involved in 1968 with a large order for a torn tape 
>>>switching center for Offut AFB in Omaha, the headquarters of our 
>>>Strategic Air Command.  The equipment was located in a nearly bomb 
>>>proof bunker several stories below ground level.  Short of a 
>>>direct hit by a nuke, this bunker could survive anything.  The 
>>>personnel had enough food and water to survive for two weeks if 
>>>needed.
>>>
>>>So the big question:  why in 1968 when we had computers available, 
>>>did they install a new manual torn tape switching center?   The 
>>>answer is that in war, with a bunch of circuits knocked out and 
>>>other switching centers similarly in trouble, a human operator 
>>>reading the routing information on a piece of printed tape could 
>>>more quickly and accurately determine how to get the message on to 
>>>its destination than the computers of those days.  There are times 
>>>when you can't beat the good old human brain.
>>>
>>>FYI, that equipment was not painted Air Force Blue.  The official 
>>>AF blue color was deemed to dark and depressing for use far 
>>>underground, and the generals felt it could be dispiriting over a 
>>>long time.  So it was painted a robins egg blue, to be more 
>>>cheerful.  To the best of my knowledge, this was the only time 
>>>that shipments to the US military got out the door in any color 
>>>than the official and usual AF blue, Army olive drab, or Navy gray.
>>
>>
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>>
>
>--
>"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
>                                                   --Edmund Burke
>
>Greg Moore NNN0BVN PA
>U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
>Official Pennsylvania Area Website:
>http://pages.prodigy.net/nnn0fbk/mars.htm
>Official Northeast Area Website: http://www.navymars.org/northeast/index.htm
>Navy-Marine Corps MARS: Proudly Serving Those Who Serve."
>E-Mail (MARS) nnn0bvn@navymars.org
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