Restoring a Mecograph Telegraph Speed Key

Description

After Horace G. Martin invented the Vibroplex and put all key makers out of business based on the fact that they were violating his patent rights, the appearance of the Mecograph key, which did not violate the patent, was such an unusual events that I decided one should be obtained and restored to factory conditions for posterity.

I obtained such a key, tore it down and put the parts in a shoebox. I sent the base to my plate shop to be copper plated and for unknown reasons it was not returned to me for three years. During that time I had a stroke and was unable to carry out the restoration. This was taken over by my friend Russ Youngs, who agreed to manage the project. He was very instrumental in handling all the things that needed to be done. As a possible help for him, who had never had any experience working with speed keys, I obtained a set of pictures of this model key from a friend in Denmark who happened to have one. Miraculously, Russ was able to assemble the key. Because the book is a bit shorter than my normal books, I am offering it at a discount price of $25. This does not detract from the fact that it contains a wealth of information for anyone wishing to work with a Mecograph key. The book is 8-1/2 by 11 in in color with a spiral binding and is 42 pages long. The chapters provide background on the beginning of telegraphy and describe the various steps taken in restoring the key.

Also included in the book as a free gift are eight songs that I wrote and a CD recording of them. I had a very talented Curtis Young record them in my living room with his 12-string guitar early in his career. Curtis has since spent a lifetime singing with the Nashville music stars and doing solo work. As such, he has been one of the most recorded voices in the history of music. He has become known as “Mr. Harmony” and has won numerous awards, including being selected as the Number One Vocalist of the Year more than five times.

Quite obviously, at age 94, this 20th book has to be my last offering.