[GreenKeys] Wheatstone Tape Perforator - Kleinschmidt, Creed, Teletype, Boehme

[Richard Knoppow]

     Not long ago I asked about a perforator made by T.R. McElroy which 
is much like this except driven electrically. It was advertized in a 
WW-2 vintage QST. Evidently the three keys worked like an electric bug, 
i.e., they repeated whatever they did as long as pressed, so a string of 
dots or dashes (or spaces) could be made by holding down a key.  I was 
able to find some additional information about it on the web.  I wonder 
how similar the mechanism was to this original one.

On 9/23/2026 8:38 AM, Duncan Brown via GreenKeys wrote:
> Wheatstone's original Morse perforator only had three keys: Dot; Space; 
> Dash. You hit the keys with little hammers, using both hands. It was 
> also known as a "Mallet Perforator."
> 
> 
> 
> Later, Wheatstone added pneumatic power to make punching easier.
> 
> Edmund Kleinschmidt added a keyboard, with all the letters of the 
> alphabet, plus special Morse characters such as _BT_ & _AR_ and a "COMB" 
> key that could combine letters.  It was powered by a 110VDC solenoid.  
> His original design was sold under the "Kleinschmidt Electric", 
> "Morkrum-Kleinschmidt", and "Teletype" names.
> 
> These perforators were used up through WWII and it may have been that 
> Teletype Corp. could not supply them fast enough during the war, so the 
> government also gave a contract to Boehme.  (This is supported by the 
> fact that United Press had to import Creed perforators during the war.  
> See Below.)
> 
> On 9/22/2026 1:13 PM, Nick England via GreenKeys
>> A Creed unit in the V&A Museum says
>>   "KLEINSCHMIDT PERFORATOR PATENTED - PAT'S PD'G CREED & CO. LTD. 
>> LONDON SOLE AGENTS SERIAL NO. 1244 VOLTS 110-120"
>> https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/409646
>>
> This perforator has what looks like a polar relay laying on top of it.  
> The polar relay was not part of the Morse Perforator.
> 
> 
> The AWA Museum of Communication Technologies has a Creed perforator with 
> a different form factor than the Kleinschmidt design and seems to be 
> motor driven.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I have not had a chance to compare this Creed perforator with the 
> Kleinschmidt design.
> 
> Have Fun,
> 
> Duncan Brown, K2OEQ
> USASA    31J30
> 
> Antique Wireless Association
>   Communication Technologies Museum
>     Asst. Curator, Commercial Equipment
> (also chief TTY op & repairman)
> 
> i-Telex: 212503
> 
> www.antiquewireless.org
> 
> AWA Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ 
> UCX55peBhzeX1qps_VYXdLBA
> 
> Virtual AWA Museum TTY Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpB6jM90VV8
>
-- 
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998