[GreenKeys] Kleinschmidt, Morkrum, M-K, M14-TP, and other early stuff

[gil at baudot.net]

Hi folks:

I am curious about some of the early days (pre-Teletype Corp).  As I
understand it, the Morkrum Company existed from 1915 to 1925.  EE
Kleinschmidt was doing his thing up until 1925, when the merger created
Morkrum-Kleinschmidt -- the M-K name lasted until 1929.  The M-K name
was changed in 1929 to Teletype Corp.  A few questions come to mind for
anyone who might recall (anything not in the Krum, Nelson-Lovitt, or
Slayton docs):

- During what years did Kleinschmidt's (original) company exist?  
   One reference says 1905-1920, but this ends before the M-K merger.
- What was Kleinschmidt designing/producing until 1925?
- For how long did EE Kleinschmidt stay on with the M-K company?

This all came to mind when I was looking into history of the Model 14
Tape Printer, a design that spanned  approximately 1925-1955.  This
printer was also commonly know as the Western Union Simplex Printer
2-B.  Western Union 2-B printers made by Morkrum-Kleinschmidt are
around, which puts start of production of the M14-TP to at least
somewhere between '25 and '29.  I have heard that a model 1-A was made
by Kleinschmidt before the M-K merger, though I have also read about a
1-A produced by Western Electric.  Ahh, this goes before '25.  Was this
1-A design essentially the same as what would become the 2-B and the
M14-TP?  But one reference says that Krum and Morton filed a patent
application for the M14-TP in pre-merger 1924.  Hmm.  

The M14 tape printer is clearly a relative of the later M14 typing
reperf and the M15, as evidenced by the design of the selector and
other sections.  But I never knew where the technology originated prior
to the M-K merger.  I presumed much of it came from Morkrum roots, since
they were producing the M11 and M12 before the M-K merger -- the M11
introduced the "cam-and-contacts" type of sending distributor, as well
as the "Teletype" scroll symbol branding plate (1921).  I am curious
what technology came from the Kleinschmidt side of M-K merger.  I am
also interested in what designs came from Kleinschmidt, Western
Electric (1-A maybe?), and Western Union (eg: the 100-family -- I have
a 103).

Here are the production dates I have of some other early models:

- Morkrum Printing Telegraph (Blickenderfer-based page printer):
    1910 to 1925 under Morkrum Company

- GPE Perforator (aka green code perf, iron-horse):
    1913 to 1925 under Morkrum Company
    1925 to 1929 under Morkrum-Kleinschmidt
    1929 to 1963 under Teletype Corp

- Model 11 Tape Printer:
    1921 to 1925 under Morkrum Company
    1925 to 1927 under Morkrum-Kleinschmidt

- Model 12 Page Printer:
    1922 to 1925 under Morkrum Company
    1925 to 1929 under Morkrum-Kleinschmidt
    1929 to 1943 under Teletype Corp


Any insight appreciated.

thanks,

gil