[GreenKeys] wooden-cased TTY on ebay

[w8au at sssnet.com]

When I made my comment about Coastal Stations eventually switching to 
computers, I KNEW
that Mr. KPH/KSM would have something to add.... :-)

I loved playing with my "Klein" and McElroy head years ago.  I would 
test my copying ability
(in my head) by running the Keying head up to 120 wpm... Never got 
much over 80...
As with mechanical RTTY versus "glass RTTY," the electromechanical 
systems even for CW are much more fun... the noise really adds to the 
atmosphere!!

Perry  w8au

At 11:11 PM 8/10/2010, Richard Dillman wrote:
>they are typically called "Kleinschmidts" or "Kleins".  We have 
>several in service at KSM.

>for the full effect of time travel one must punch the tape (wearing 
>one's green eyeshade), make a loop of it (for a the repeating 
>"wheel") and glue the ends together with mucilage (nothing else will do).
>
>When I first started punching tape on the Klein I quickly realized 
>there was no way to correct a mistake.  So I asked some of the old 
>timers how they handled that situation.  They looked at me in my eye 
>and said "we didn't make mistakes".  Not boasting, mind.  Just 
>stating the fact.
>
>We have several Boehme keying heads in service.  While these can be 
>used at 20-30wpm for the wheel or the traffic list, these devices 
>have a three speed transmission a variable speed DC motor and a cool 
>spedometer.  You can crank 'em up to 120wpm or higher (depending on 
>model).  These speeds were used to put traffic across point to point 
>circuits, especially during the war.
>
>At the receive end the incoming signal was recorded as an undulating 
>line on paper tape by a siphon pen.  Banks of operators sat before 
>typewriters across which the tape was drawn.  They read the tape and 
>typed the message.  There are photos of all this on our Web site (URL below)
>
> >W1AW used this older system until 30-40 years ago.  Maritime 
> Coastal stations
> >did also, but in later years switched to computers.
>
>Blasphemy.  Well, actually we do send the press and weather from 
>computers at KSM.  But when men were men...
>
>RD
>
>=================================
>Richard Dillman
>Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
>Maritime Radio Historical Society
>http://www.radiomarine.org
>=================================