[GreenKeys] Mystery Printer Identified !

[DR HOUSE]

Wonderful news Duncan.  Given the patience of Job, and the right  
documentation, Jim Haynes may get the M212 printing again.  However  
the machine may also need a few miracles which are normally only  
provided by the Grand Pooba of Teletype restoration... Riceguy!
The printer I found also has a serial number.  Jim has the machine  
now. It took two of us to put it in the trunk of his car.  The things  
must be made of at least 98 percent IRON.  I also have located what I  
think is the ribbon spools for the machine.  They are turned from the  
outside of the spool rather than the inside hub.

I know I write for both of us when I write THANK YOU.  We have been  
puzzling over this mystery for several years now.  Jim had found a  
patent that show a similar but not identical machine invented by  
Cardwell.  So finally it all adds up.

Very respectfully,
Don K9TTY



On 24 May 2011, at 9:10 PM, Duncan Brown wrote:

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)