[GreenKeys] Teletype Model 26 questions

[Jim Haynes]

On Wed, 25 Jun 2008, Duncan M. Brown wrote:

> The AWA Museum just received a very nice M26 with table (Thanks to N4MW).
> It's been a while since I saw a M26 and I have a few questions about it.
> Maybe some of you can help.
>
> 1.  There is a toggle switch on the right side of the keyboard.  What was
> its function? I do not find any description of it.  Motor power ON/OFF

Seems like one machine I opened up had a wire loop in series with the
motor that ran to that location, but was not used.  So I guess putting
a power switch there was optional; maybe there was thought of running
the machine without its official table.

> base.  On this unit, the base toggle switch is wired to the selector magnet
> terminals in order to switch from 20 to 60 ma operation.  This is a
> function that would not normally be put on the outside of the unit (but
> "some ham" might have done so - and the 20/60 ma wiring is relatively new.)

Yeah, that sounds like a hammy modification, as the official way to do 
the 20/60 ma switch was by jumpers on the rear terminal strip.
>
> 2.  There is no "Blank" key on this unit, although it is shown in Bul. 158,
> Feb 1938.  Was the "Blank" key standard on the M26?

Mine doesn't have a blank key.  I guess there was no use for it in
normal operation.  However the late Bob Weitbrecht W6NRM used Model 26
machines often, and it was he who showed me a trick back when we had
to send our callsigns in Morse code.  The trick was to use the LTRS
key for a dit and the BLANK key for a dah, and you could send code that
way that was copyable by ear on the space frequency.
>
> 3.  There are two 7" x 8" steel right angle shelf brackets under each side
> of the front of the table.  Were these original, or were they added later
> to improve the rigidity of the table?

I've wondered that too.  Every M26 table I have ever seen has them,
but they are so ugly you'd think they were not planned for.  So maybe
it became necessary to add them to all the tables for rigidity.  Part
of the problem is that the paper compartment is open at the bottom,
so it doesn't contribute to rigidity.
>
> 4. There is a 5/8" hole in the top of the table, just behind the ganged
> power switch.  Is this original?  If so, what was it used for?

I don't know.  However there is a certain tradition of having a light
bulb socket at the top of a stem as a signal to the operator.  (Signal
an incoming call, so turn on the motor and answer it.)  So perhaps the
hole is there for that purpose, but I'm only guessing.
>
> 5.  The unit is missing the left hand paper-holder finger spring (holds the
> left hand side of the paper against the platen).  Looks like the number is
> 90973 (from p. 10 of Bul. 1074, Jan 1945).  Anyone have one you could send
> me?

Probably best you just go to a hardware store that has a good assortment
of springs and pick out one that is about the same wire gauge and cut it
to the right length.  I just looked to see if the same part is used in a
M15 and it is not.  So it might be something used only on the 26, in
which case there just aren't any spare parts in circulation.
>
>
> Thanks,