[GreenKeys] Wheatstone Tape setup 1930

[Duncan Brown]

The more generic term for these 2-hole tape perforators is "Morse 
Perforator."

Charles Wheatstone came up with the idea, in 1858, of perforating tape 
for machine-sent Morse transmissions. But Wheatstone's perforator only 
had three buttons: [dot], [space], & [dash].




You held a mallet in each fist and pounded on the buttons to perforate 
the tape. Later, there was a pneumatic-assisted version that did not 
require as much force, but still a 3-button keyboard.

In 1905, Edward E. Kleinschmidt applied for a patent (#0946372A, granted 
1910) for a keyboard-operated Morse (or any other code) perforator.  In 
1912, he applied for an improved version (#1085985A, granted 1914).  
About the same time, John Gell, of the New Zealand Telegraph Department, 
came  up with a similar machine.

The Kleinschmidt Electric Co. Keyboard Perforator ( 
https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/Kleinschmidt-wheatstone.jpg ) became 
the standard Morse perforator. After KEC merged with Morkrum, they were 
continued to be sold under the Teletype Corp. name through WWII. The 
wooden cased models with the Teletype Corp. label were continued to be 
called "Kleins" by the old Morse operators.

Even calling them "Morse" perforators, is not quite accurate, in that 
they could be programmed to perforate any code, such as Continental or 
Cable codes. At the AWA Museum, we have a wooden-cased, Teletype Corp. 
branded, perforator with a Cyrillic keyboard.  I don't know what code it 
generates.

have fun,

Duncan
K2OEQ


On 11-Jul-21 17:19, Nick England wrote:
> Besides teletypes I am fascinated by paper tape Morse code systems -
> Here's a cool photo from 1930 showing the whole setup - Navy Radio 
> Station at Los Banos, Philippines
> https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/LosBanos-07-morse.jpg 
> <https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/LosBanos-07-morse.jpg>
> Note the "tape buffer" trash cans.
>
> Right-to-left in the photo
> Transmitting - Tape is punched with a Wheatstone perforator and read 
> with a keying head which keys the transmitter
> https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/boehme-tm11-486-02.jpg 
> <https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/boehme-tm11-486-02.jpg>
> Receiving - tape is pulled through an ink recorder and then pulled 
> past a radioman who reads the Morse "slip" and types on a typewriter.
> https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/boehme-tm11-486-01.jpg 
> <https://www.navy-radio.com/morse/boehme-tm11-486-01.jpg>
>
> FWIW more photos and videos of equipment and operation at
> https://www.navy-radio.com/morse.htm 
> <https://www.navy-radio.com/morse.htm>
>
> Cheers,
> Nick England K4NYW
> www.navy-radio.com <http://www.navy-radio.com>
>