[GreenKeys] Odd Typing reperf on Greenkeys

[O. Warren]

Hi..

This refers to your picture and inquiry on Greenkeys section of qth.net.

I cannot see the picture that well, but it appears that your reperferator
has a tape reader attached to it.  IF so, that typing reperferator
transmitter is another special purpose model 14 item by Western Union!!  The
transmitter's distributor was a separate assembly item, for the tape's
routing indicator was read and switched in parallel mode, the message text
was then transmitted in serial!..

In some major cities, and only Los Angeles had the system that I saw on the
West Coast, there was a 40's - 50's message switching system that ran on
torn tape.  These were 24/7, basically model 14 machines that received and
then retransmitted, the tape's routing indicator holes being read and a
nearby switch room switched (routed) the message and after switching, the
message tape came up to speed and the message was on it's way.  This was a
relay operated system with the tape being read at 2 speeds!!  Again, the
transmitter's distributor was a separate assembly item, for the tape's
routing indicator was read and switched in parallel mode, the message text
was then transmitted in serial!..

Was the SK fellow a Western Union employee or just a person with access to
old W.U. surplus equipment?  Normally as W.U.upgraded equipment, the old
stuff was put to a land fill and never sold or released, as too many
competing outside technicians would "scrounge" it for parts in competition
with W.U.!!  They didn't allow "dumpster scroungers"!  This policy was
written and distributed in Company memos..

As to models 14 Vs 15, IF it was tape, either wide with perforations or
narrow, printed only with gummed tape, (used by W.U. for printing narrow
gummed tape with pre printed forms delivery to a message addressee) these
were model 14.  IF it was a page printer, it was Model 15, and a combination
of a page printer on a table with tape perforator and transmitter, this
combination was a Model 19.  I had a model 19 setup on 6 and 2 meters AM
RTTY in the early 60's..

The military version - equivalent was a tape section known as a TT-4 and the
page printer with keyboard was a TT-76.  I operated one of these.

 Best,

Dick