Navy Automated Morse Code (CW) Equipment

Under Construction - please send me e-mail with additional photos, info, etc.
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I know only a little about how this worked so far - please send me e-mail with corrections, clarifications, additions, etc.

At shore transmitting stations, Morse code messages could be punched onto paper tape and then sent via a CW or FSK keyer which controlled the transmitters. Normal shore-ship transmission was around 20 wpm, but high speed links between shore stations could run up to 400 wpm.

At the receiving end of a high-speed link, Morse was recorded in ink onto a paper tape - the tape could be read by Radiomen who printed the messages using a typewriter (mill).

Code recorders were also used for intercept work:
Info from Arthur Adolphsen, USASA - "In 1956-8 we used the RD-112 recorders. The radio racks, 50 in each room, contained two SP-600 receivers, later changed to R-390's. They were connected to one FSK converter, which aligned the signals, symmetrical and volume, with Operator's help. We could adjust the length of dots/dashes with a speed wheel or reverse the signal with a switch when it went up side down on the RD-112, from the FSK converter then to the RD-112. We scanned and read the tape by eye/hand, cutting the desired message for later translating via Royal or Underwood machines with a tape puller motor to the left of the typewriters.
We had a large antenna field, and could connect and change direction by a large board with cable plugs, looked like a Telephone switch board, only no switches, just plugs and wires, as one radio lost its signal we could find another antenna (direction or orientation). Seemed as though the inverted V's worked the best for most every frequency. Was easy to chase the signals with the plug system.
Most of the Automatic operators could read and type the code on the tapes very fast, most around 50 or 60 wpm. We became able to type very fast by the end of our tour. The paper from the tape, after going through the ink pen just piled up on the floor, some of the messages were very short, only a foot or so of paper, and some went on for many hours, maybe a day or so, we had to make sure the tape roll was full, and the ink bottle was full and as good a signal as possible."

CODE RECORDERS

RD-110/U Paper Tape Code Recorder - I am missing some piece that guides the paper tape past the pen - please send me e-mail with any info or photos of this unit

Before Restoration
	Tape feeder tray missing from lower right. Ink reservoir upper center. Solenoid controlled inker below it. Tape capstan at upper left.	As found - just a wee bit dirty	-
Tape capstan at upper left	Ink reservoir	Solenoid controlled inker	-
Capstan motor showing variable diameter shaft for speed control	Capstan motor showing variable diameter shaft for speed control	center - inker solenoid right - capstan motor	inker solenoid
Restoration -
Good Navy paint beneath the grime	Ah that looks better		Capstan and pinch roller
Green points to pen tip Magenta - pen motion Blue - tape path? Yellow - missing piece? roller?	Better shot of pen tip between adjustable stops.
I have got the pen and capstan motor working, but am missing some piece that guides the paper tape past the pen - please send me e-mail with any info or photos of this unit