We have some telegraph keys and a sounder (complete with the Prince Albert can) in our museum depot, and I would like to connect them with batteries so theyÂ’d work for demonstration. Can anyone advise me what voltage is necessary? Thank you!

We have used 9 volt batteries for our demonstration equipment and they have worked just fine.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net

The setup we have at the KRM is powered by a 12-volt electric train transformer. It has worked fine for serveral years now.

Now, I would like to know if someone has an idea on how to simulate incoming telegraph transmissions?

wilkidm@wku.edu

At one time, there was a telegraph link between our two stations. Service was provided by volunteers who were members of a amature radio/telegraph club but that activity was discontinued due to problems maintaining the line if memory serves me right.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net

> The setup we have at the KRM is powered by a
> 12-volt electric train transformer. It has
> worked fine for serveral years now.

> Now, I would like to know if someone has an
> idea on how to simulate incoming telegraph
> transmissions?

It seems to me that devices similar to music boxes with rotating drums that made contact with fingers were used to create such "messages" for Morse training purposes. Devices which used paper punch tape (like a player piano) came later. Amateur radio operators who are into Morse preservation may be able to assist you by possibly designing a device to generate the pulses. Landline telegraphy, as used of steam era railroads however, uses a different code than that used by amateur radio operators. Hams use the International Morse Code, while the railroads used the American Morse Code. AMC operators would be hard to find today, but IMC operators are as close as your nearest Amateur radio club
John J. Blair
N2MMM


jjbx@twcny.rr.com

Thanks to all for your responses. Very interesting that we have both batteries and transformers as power supplies, since batteries put out DC current and transformers put out AC. I didnÂ’t know telegraphs could operate with AC. Also, I wasnÂ’t aware that railroads used American Morse Code and not International. YouÂ’ve given me some good info!

As for simulating incoming transmissions, try a search on Google for “Morse Code”. There are several web sites with training courses for code operations, with software included on some. Some even offer simulations on line, or through software. This isn’t the same, of course, as activating the telegraph equipment itself, but maybe some sort of transfer could be made if a good computer guru is available.

Except for Lionel and some European models, most model train transformers work on DC. We used it so we wouldn't have to replace the batteries all of the time.

david.wilkins@bardstown.com

> Thanks to all for your responses. Very
> interesting that we have both batteries and
> transformers as power supplies, since
> batteries put out DC current and
> transformers put out AC. I didnÂ’t know
> telegraphs could operate with AC. Also, I
> wasnÂ’t aware that railroads used American
> Morse Code and not International. YouÂ’ve
> given me some good info!
******************
Well, no, the telegraph set will NOT operate on AC. You can operate it either from a set of batteries or from a power-supply that converts household AC to low-voltage DC.

As for how much voltage to apply to the set, I don't think it's critical-- other people have mentioned 9 or 12 volts. What I would do (find an electrician or ham radio operator if you need help with this) is feed low-voltage DC current into the sounder and note how much voltage and current is needed to make the sounder "pull in". Once you know the voltage, use a supply with a few (only two or three) more volts more than that to actually run the system. Also, since the sounder is old and hard to repair, place a fuse in the wires leading to it, rated for twice (at most) the current needed to make the sounder "pull in". That way, the fuse will blow instead of the sounder's coils burning up, should something go badly wrong (like somebody deciding to "sit" on the key).

As for American Morse versus International Morse, it depends on the degree of authenticity you're trying to achieve. I don't think anyone uses American Morse anymore, so if you want people who might know Morse Code to be able to listen to the sounder and say "Aha! I know what's coming in," you're better off using International Morse.

Another point-- modern Morse Code reception is based on the presence or absence of a tone. "SOS" comes out as "bip-bip-bip beeep-beeep-beeep bip-bip-bip". An old telegraph sounder can't generate tones, so one had to listen to the rhythm. So I'm thinking that "SOS" would come out as "clickclack clickclack clickclack click....clack click....clack click....clack clickclack clickclack clickclack". I have no idea if that actually represents proper sending technique or not. Does someone out there know one way or the other?

> As for simulating incoming transmissions,
> try a search on Google for “Morse Code”.
> There are several web sites with training
> courses for code operations, with software
> included on some. Some even offer
> simulations on line, or through software.
> This isnÂ’t the same, of course, as
> activating the telegraph equipment itself,
> but maybe some sort of transfer could be
> made if a good computer guru is available.
*******************
Yes, there are computer programs out there that can play all sorts of canned messages. You can even have the computer drive a sounder. I'm not sure exactly how this would be done (I'm no computer guru, either), but there's no reason why a code-generating program couldn't direct its output to the computer's serial port, and the output used to drive a small 5-volt relay which in turn would make-and-break the telegraph circuit just like a key would.

I hope this is helpful....

Hale Adams
Pikesville, Md.

ahadams1@ix.netcom.com

> It seems to me that devices similar to music
> boxes with rotating drums that made contact
> with fingers were used to create such
> "messages" for Morse training
> purposes. Devices which used paper punch
> tape (like a player piano) came later.

> John J. Blair
> N2MMM

Hi John, and all:

It just so happens the New Jersey Midland Railroad Historical Society recently received donation of such a device.

LaSalle Extension University had apparently run a correspondence course in commercial and railroad telegraphy. We recently received donation of an apparently complete coruse kit, consisting of the course manual with lessons, a "Sendograph" ticker tape player, with an array of paper tickertape reels, keys and sounders. The course documentation itself is a most interesting book, addressing the standard railroad and commercial telegraphy practices current with its 1927 publication date. The Sendograph apparently played back key transmissions for the student to practice hearing and transcribing. Neat piece of equipment, in what appears to be very good condition!

We are in the earliest of stages of evaluating this hardware, and have yet to determine whether it is in full working order. I'll keep everyone posted as to what we find!

Best Regards,
John Isaksen
New Jersey Midland RR Hist. Society
johni@warwick.net



NJ Midland Homepage
johni@warwick.net

See the link below if you want to go 100% authentic. I don't recommend this for a set-up that could be touched accidentally by some one, but it does give your a high degree of realism.

Now, to power a sounder it depends on the winding resistance. It should be marked on the sounder. If not, measure it with an ohmmeter. Actually the Western Union specifications showed current versus instrument winding resistance. This chart is posted on the web somewhere, but I can't seem to find it right now.

"Local" sounders usually have winding resistance of 4 or 5 ohms. These were designed to work off of a gravity cell, which has a voltage of about 1 volts. A single D cell will power one just fine- just don't leave the circuit closer closed for long. The local sounders were keyed by a much more sensitive relay.

Mainline sounders are 120 ohms, and were designed to work connected directly to a telegraph wire. These are the type discussed in Ed Trump's article which take 120 volts DC and up to power correctly. HOWEVER, these will work acceptably with 12 volts and an appropriate current limiting resistor. Good operation requires about 50 mA, so with 12 volts and a 120 ohm winding, you need a limiting resistor of 120 ohms. Use a 100 ohm and you will be just fine. Adjust the sounder spring tension just enough to get good snappiness when the key opens.

There is a guy on eBay selling an electronic gizmo that powers the sounder and sends a message. If I can find, will post a link later.

73 Greg

> We have some telegraph keys and a sounder
> (complete with the Prince Albert can) in our
> museum depot, and I would like to connect
> them with batteries so theyÂ’d work for
> demonstration. Can anyone advise me what
> voltage is necessary? Thank you!


Telegraph Circuits
gsraven@bellsouth.net

It turns out that we do happen to have a "Sendograph" machine with tape on display in our depot's ticket office. With a bit of tinkering, we have been able to get the machine to run on occasion. You really need to have someone who is familiar with telegraph operations on hand if you intend to use the old equipment. Otherwise, it would probably be better to go with a modern computerized training system like the others have mentioned.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net

Actually, there were some American railroad telegraphers who were fluent in both American and International Morse Code. One of our museum members was one of the operators who could make that claim.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net

Below is a link I found with info on driving telegraph equipment with computer. The first method talked about in the link uses the modem (Trivia: the modem term "Baud" is named after a French Morse pioneer.) The second method discussed is probably the one to look into for using "canned" messages. Called "The Mill", it is available from Jim Farrior (address given on linked page) for $15 postpaid. It uses the serial port of an IBM compatible computer to drive a sounder, and can play canned messages.

> Except for Lionel and some European models,
> most model train transformers work on DC.

Don't forget American Flyer "S" gauge uses AC, as well. The longtime former rival of Lionel is now owned/made by Lionel. It is slightly smaller, and somewhat more prototypical than Lionel, especially in having 2 instead of 3 rail track.

The Telegraph Time Machine
bilburns1313@ameritech.net

> Except for Lionel and some European models,
> most model train transformers work on DC. We
> used it so we wouldn't have to replace the
> batteries all of the time.

Some of the model systems used DC so the locomotives could be reversed by reversing the polarity of the track.
As for the Morse and the International codes, there were so many letters the same that for a trained operator it was no problem to read the message. Sorta like listening to someone with
a foreign accent.


rrfanjim@mvn.net

He asks that you register after download and install:

realistic simulation American Morse train orders
bilburns1313@ameritech.net