[GreenKeys] Mystery Printer Identified !

[Duncan Brown]

Don,

The solenoid powered, type cylinder, "Mystery Printer" that you found 
was made by the American Telegraph Typewriter Co. around 1910, founded 
by Dr G. A. Cardwell.  He and his stepson, Allen D. Cardwell also 
started the Cardwell Mfg. Co. which made variable capacitors (among 
other things).  The Cardwell Capacitor Co. is still in existance, though 
its name was recently changed to "Viking Technologies"  -  
http://cardwellcondenser.com/PAGES/history.html

One of my co-volunteers at the AWA Museum brought in two wooden crates 
today that he has been storing for the Museum for the past 30-40 years.  
Both crates had "American Telegraph Typewriter Co." stenciled on them.  
The first crate said "Model 212".  We opened up the crate and it is the 
same printer you found. No identification on the unit, but in very good 
condition, complete with a couple of lines of FOX test and a tag that 
said " # 212  Adjusted and oiled tested", someone's initials and the 
date "6/17/8".  This printer has been sitting in its crate for over 100 
years!!

I tried to get some pictures of the type cylinder, but it is hard to see.

A Google search for "American Telegraph Typewriter Company" gave over 
5000 results, including a couple of NY Times articles from 1910 about 
the use of the printer in NYC Police Departments and on the battleship 
Nebraska. Also a 28 Dec 1912 article about indictments against the 
company and D. A. Cardwell for trying to defraud investors by giving 
misleading information.

 From one of the 1910 NY Times articles:
   "When you strike the key you throw three impulses of unlike polarity 
on the line, and the line in its turn works the polar relays, which 
works the selective mechanism in the printer simultaneously."
  "The impulses which place the right letter in position need be of no 
definite duration, and it is immaterial what interval of time separates 
the impulses either in the formation of letters or between letters."
  "The capacity of the machine is limited only by the speed of the 
writer, and that it can carry 135 words a minute."
[This article is apparently describing a slightly different machine, as 
it apparently has a keyboard and it is described as looking like a 
typewriter with a "round case on top that holds the special mechanism." 
But the signalling scheme was probably the same.]


The second crate also had a model number stenciled onto it, but it was 
filled with solenoid-filled modules.  Possibly prototypes of the 
selector mechanism?

I will send pictures to Don and Jim Haynes.  Anyone else interested in 
this unit, let me know and I can send the pictures to you also.

Have fun,

Duncan Brown, K2OEQ
USASA  31J

Chief TTY operator & repairman
AWA Communications Museum
http://www.antiquewireless.org/
http://www.antiquewireless.org/museum/museum.htm  (present museum)
http://www.antiquewirelessmuseum.com  (future museum)