Chapter
24 Contents
Chapter 26
(Dates show
what I have been able to find)
These items
are in partial supplement to chapter 25.
Morse's first "sender" used tooth-like raised characters on a straight edge "ruler," over which a follower-contactor was pulled along in order to send. No doubt derived from this idea Morse (in 1844) is thought to have built a "transmitting plate," a board of insulating material having the code characters composed of metal bits imbedded in it. They were arranged so as to produce the code character (whose name was marked beside it) when a metal stylus was dragged across the surface at an constant speed. (Such a plate was independently designed in Germany about 1850.)
Telegraph teachers realized early in the game that the student needs a lot of practice hearing good quality sending. The transmitting plate may have become the earliest self-teaching device. (Such boards were advertized as late as 1960 !)
THE OMNIGRAPH
The Omnigraph,
which first came out in 1901, was an obvious derivative of original Morse
"sender" with its raised "teeth."
It was a mechanical
device consisting of a handcrank, clockwork or electric motor to drive
an assembly of thin interchangeable
metal disks
bearing the code characters past a follower-keying device. Several
disks were stacked up together on a spindle-carrier which was driven by
the "motor." The whole assembly of disks looked like a cylinder with
little "bumps" on
it.
A wide range of speeds from about 5 to over 60 wpm was provided for by
adjustment of the brake on a flyball governor
which held
the speed constant after it was set.
Each disk
had five groups of code characters cut like gear teeth around its periphery,
and each group was composed of five
characters
plus a separating space. A spring-loaded "follower" rode along the
edges of the disks, opening and closing the
keying contacts.
A clever adjustable sequencing mechanism actuated by the rotating disk
carrier caused the follower to
move up or
down at user-selected points during each revolution. Various models provided
for from five to ten or more disks. By changing the stacking of the
disks and by adjusting the sequencing mechanism the five character groups
could be sent in
many different
sequences. There was, however, no way to alter the order of characters
within a group, and all keyer-follower
movements
occurred between groups.
These machines
were to be used with a sounder for American Morse or a buzzer or
oscillator for International Morse. They
seem to have
had a very wide usage for basic learning and developing speed among would-be
operators, including amateurs.
(Advertising
often claimed that a month of serious study could qualify an operator.)
The government licensing authorities also
used Omnigraphs
to administer the code tests for operator's licenses for many years, at
least until 1930, when I was tested.
The Omnigraph
Manufacturing Co., New York City. A 1922 ad read : "Learn Telegraphy
(Wireless or Morse) at Home in Half the Usual Time... Just Listen - the
Omnigraph will do the teaching." You will be surprised how quickly you
will attain speed. Even if you are already an operator the Omnigraph
will help you. It will make you more proficient, more accurate and
more confident..." In 1918 the Electro Importing Co., NY, advertised
them starting at $16.00 for a five disk machine, and
$23.00 for
a 15 disk model. Additional disks were available at five for $1.00.
Ini1902 Thomas
A. Edison's book "Telegraphy Self-Taught" was published by Frederick J.
Drake & Co. in Chicago. It was written with the philosophy that
"it is not the speed at which the letter is sounded that perplexes the
learner, but the rapid succession in which they follow each other." (This
is identical with the so-called Farnsworth method today.) The book
was accompanied with a small hand-crank-driven tape puller and a set of
paper tapes with the code characters punched in them. The tapes were
designed to start out with very wide spacing between characters, and as
thestudent progressed these spaces were reduced to normal.
The goal was a practical working speed of 25 wpm. The actual speeds,
of course, would depend on how fast the student turned the crank on the
machine.
In 1917 the
Marconi-Victor set of six double-sided phonograph records, described in.
the first sound-only course for
International
Morse for a phonograph seems to have come out. It consisted of 12
lessons recorded on six 78 rpm records produced by a "code expert,"
approved by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. and put out by the Victor
Phonograph Co. Lessons 1 and 2 gave the code and conventional signs.
Lessons 3 and 4 contained easy sentences, etc. Lessons 5 & 6
had Marconi Press and then messages with static interference. Lessons
7 & 8 were press with static, and messages with errors and corrections.
Lesson 9 was press with interference from another station. Lessons
10 through 12 were groups of figures, ten-letter words and ten-letter code
groups. It was an ambitious program which included realistic, typical,
practical problems of reception. Playing time was short.
In1921 the
Wireless Press, New York City.advertised:. "Study the Code Anywhere"
appeared. The ad said: "This New Way - The Sound
Method for Memorizing the Code.For success
in telegraphing the letters must be
learned by the sound. Each letter has a distinctive
cadence or rhythm which is easily memorized
by a few hours' practice. The charts attached give the key
to the rhythm of each letter of the telegraph alphabets.
It forms no picture in the student's mind, but
instead a sound is memorized like a bar of music. An hour a day devoted
to memorizing the distinctive rhythm of each letter will enable
the student to send or receive a message in a few weeks.
The beginner is strongly advised not to practice
with charts or books which show the actual dots and dashes.
Once a picture of each letter is formed in memory it will be
found difficult to send or receive by sound. Don't try to teach the
ears though the eyes." [It would be very interesting to see a
copy of their course method.]
National Radio
Institute. Washington DC. Radio News Se. 1921.
"Wonderful
Natrometer Gives You Code-Speed in Half Usual Time. ... will send messages
in a human and not a mechanical manner at a rate which you can vary from
3 to 30 words per minute. ... The effect of static interference may be
added to the messages being copied. ...A beginner can quickly learn the
alphabet from our A dial." Picture shows a mechanism similar
to Omnigraph, but about half the total size, using ten disks which were
exchangeable. Price not stated.
The first
ad for the Dodge Radio Shortcut (Later "Shortkut") called "BKMA YRLSBUG",
by C. K. Dodge, Mamaroneck NY. was seen in Radio News Dec. 1921:
The ad said: -"Memorize Continental Code Almost Instantly. Two hundred
beginners in 44 states have reported mastered [sic.] code in 20 minutes,
in one hour, one evening, etc., etc...." It was a large 5/8 column ad.
The usual later ad was about one inch in one column, though sometimes larger.
Price at first was $3.00 for small booklet. These ads appeared for
many years afterward. (This is the worthless "Eat Another Raw Lemon"
method mentioned in Chapter 21.)
Memo Code,
H. C. Fairchild, Newark NJ. Radio News Aug. 1922.
"Boys and
grown-ups. Makes you a real radio operator. By my System and
Chart, you will know the code in 30 minutes...
Complete
system $1.00..." A buzzer-blinker key practice set available
with course for $5.00.
In 1922 a
Radio News ad of Oct.1922 read: "The fastest way to learn the
radio code." The American Code Co. of New York City put out a
phonograph course recorded by the famous hero operator Jack Binns,
whose bravery and skill saved almost every life aboard the liner Republic
after it was struck in 1909. "Two phonograph records made by Jack Binns
and text-book $2.00." This course claimed to be able to teach the code
in one evening! Pretty Ambitious !
Teleplex Co.,
New York City. First ad in QST seen Apr. 1927:
"The Easy
Way to Learn the Code Cuts Learning Time in Half. The famous Teleplex
for self-instruction at home. The quickest, easiest and most economical
way of learning Morse or Continental... Faithfully reproduces actual sending
of expert operators." Next month's ad: "At last! The Famous
Teleplex ... with only a screw to turn.... 5 to 80 words per minute."
Third month: "Learn the Code at Home This Easy Way With Teleplex.
Complete course ..." They provided a code instruction manual
and help and advice personally by correspondence. It was initially a spring-driven
punched paper
tape machine.
Later models were electric-motor driven. In 1942 they produced a
paper tape model which could record one's own sending (using electro-chemical
means) as well as send user-prepared tapes. In 1956 they reverted
to punched tape
again, and
in 1959 they went to a machine resembling the Omnigraph. Prices never
published in ads. The Teleplex Company
later brought
out an inked paper tape type of mechanical keyer, which was available for
several years. It used the sidewise
motion of
a pen with a conducting ink (apparently made from a silver compound), and
was followed by a similar mechanical
design using
a chemically treated paper tape. The user could make his own recordings
with a key or from a receiver. Playback was by a pair of spring-loaded
fingers which contacted the conducting ink to close the circuit.
Later designs used a
photocell
instead of direct electrical contact for reading the tapes. This
permitted the use of non-conducting inks. These
differed only
in degree from Morse's original "recorder." McElroy's company also manufactured
this type of recording
system.
These types of systems were generally far beyond the average ham's pocketbook.
The Candler
System, Chicago. First ad seen in QST dated Sep. 1928 (probably advertised
earlier in other magazines), last ad
seen in QST
Feb. 1959. Emphasis on high speed and "scientific" nature of course.
Large ads from time to time, but usually
about one
inch in a column. Price not advertised. See Chapter
30.
The Instructograph
Co., Chicago. Must have been in use before first ad seen in QST of
Jan. 1934. "(Code teacher) The
scientific,
easy and quick way to learn the code. Machines, tapes and complete
instruction for sale or rent." Similar to the Teleplex punched
paper tape machine, speeds from 3 to 40 wpm. Last ads seen
in 1970 ARRL Handbook.
0ther devices
included machines for producing code practice using punched paper tapes.
The tapes were wound on reels and
pulled by
a clockwork-type spring motor or electric motor having adjustable speeds.
The tape perforations actuated a spring-loaded contactor to open and close
the circuit. Commercial machines were in use long before they entered the
amateur field.
There, Teleplex and Instructograph were the earliest and best known; other
later imitators were Automatic
Telegraph
Keyer Corp., Gardiner & Co., etc. A few provided for punching
one's own tapes. Ted McElroy, the long-time code speed champion began
making a series of similar high-quality equipment primarily for commercial
and Military use during the WWII period and continued for some time afterwards.
Some of these
units could be rented as well as purchased outright. In either case,
it involved a substantial amount of money, which most amateurs could not
afford. In addition, the variety and amount of practice material
they provided was often
rather limited.
McElroy's "free
code course" offered in 1945 and again in 195- appears to have been associated
with the use of one of his code machines. For its use the claim was
"Assuming that the average person will practice several hours the first
day, we can tell you... that you'll be copying that very first day, words
and sentences at the character rate rate of 20 wpm. Ted has taken
one-half the alphabet and prepared a practice tape whlich runs for a full
hour without attention at 20 wpm. You won't copy 20 full words in
one minute, but each letter you write will hit your ears at a full 20 wpm
rate, and the space between the letters becomes progressively shorter as
the rolls go along."
An odd
little unit offered in 1970 was called the "Cotutor." It was just
a simple whistle with a set of disks which contained the alphabet and numbers.
Each disk had six characters, punched through so that the characters would
sound when one blew into the mouthpiece while at the same time turning
the disk by hand.
RECORDERS
AND COMPUTERS
The real turning
point in availability and variety arrived with the advent first of the
wire recorder and then of the tape recorders. Here, like the phonograph,
the "machine" was probably something already owned and could be used for
other things besides code-learning. This kept the cost down.
Many prepared code tapes became commercially available, or could be self-recorded
from the radio or other sources and played over and over as desired.
Many good courses became available and
more are available
today.
Some electronic
keyboards and keyers offer a wide variety of pre-programmed practice materials
for practice. One of their
main advantages
is that they always produce perfectly formed characters -- something that
greatly expedites initial learning.
But personal
computers, which entered the scene actively in the early 1980's, offer
the widest range for basic code learning and
for advancing
in skill. A wide variety of freeware programs for learning and for
practice are available, as well as programs
commercially
produced. Not a few PC programmers have been able to prepare their
own programs tailored to their own particular needs. A number of
interactive programs are available which give either immediate or delayed
helps to the student -- these offer tremendous help in learning.
Some may also allow the more advanced student to conduct QSO's with the
computer program, just as if he was actually on the air. The potential
here is great indeed. (See Chapter 16)
Finally, there
are available computer programs and devices which can read receive code
transmissions. Because they are machines, they can only read code
signals which are reasonably accurate in timing. For the student
who has access to one of these, it will give him a chance to test his own
sending for accuracy. However, they are not recommended as substitutes
for personal receiving by ear.