[GreenKeys] eBay - Western Union tape moistener & cutter

[Richard Dillman]

On Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 11:47 AM Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

     I am sure Radiomarine org would give it a good home but I am
> doubtful that radiograms were sent that way. My understanding is
> that radiograms were delivered via WU or Postal Telegraph or
> later telephone. Sometimes via mail.
>     While this was general knowledge at the time its difficult to
> find authentic details now. However, beside the ship and shore
> station charges there was also a forwarding charge, which was the
> telegraph company charge from the coastal station to the
> destination.
>

Hi Richard.  We wondered about that ourselves.  In the station reports of
1946 and 1947 which we are fortunate to have, station manager Frank Geisel
frequently complains that the Western Union line was down.  But we were not
sure how that line was used.  However in a photo of the operating room of
that era some sort of strip printer is prominent (see attached).   A
Teletype enthusiast more expert that us identified it as a 2B sitting on
what we later learned was called a gumming table.  Eventually a dim light
dawned.  Radiograms for ships at sea could of course be filed at any RCA
office or by messenger.  All the big cities had these offices.  But in
other locations a radiogram could be filed at any Western Union office.  If
for a ship in the Pacific the radiogram would be printed on the 2B at KPH,
pasted on a radiogram blank in the usual manner and put on the hook as
outgoing traffic.

It took more than a decade to sort this out, find a 2B, have it restored
and return it to operation (with the help of several on this list).  But we
are proud to say the 2B is back in service.  Now all we need is that WU
line.  Darn thing has been out of service for more than 60 years.

Although we do have a moistener I was thinking of bidding on this one
mainly for the metal cut off device (ours is plastic).  But if anyone needs
a moistener to complete their 2B installation please say so and I will
happily refrain from bidding.

VY 73,

RD

=========================
Richard Dillman
Chief Operator, KPH
=========================
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