Historians, apparently, still argue over this issue. There exists at
least two letters in which Vail attributes the new code (replacing the
original all number code with corresponding dictionary) to Morse and not
himself. So, some historians put a lot of weigh on those references and
still give credit to Morse for the code with combinations of dits and
das for various letters and numbers. Others look at other evidence and
think Vail was the key guy in this code system. So, the truth is we
still don't know for sure. -- 73 de Carl N8VZ
Fred Jensen <mailto:[email protected]>
Friday, April 27, 2018 1:50 PM
Ahh yes, if life were fair, it would be the American Vail Code.
Unlike Sam, Alfred had access to the family machine shop, was an
accomplished machinist, and could build just about anything. He even
crafted his code so the most prevalent letters in English have the
shortest codes.
In the mid 19th century, a wagon train was formed [in St Joseph MO, I
think] for the trip to California led by a fellow named Donner. It
was a hugely dysfunctional group from the start, a homicide before
they left and several more on the way. Unlike the others, they
managed to tee off the Paiute Chief near Pyramid Lake in NV, split up
amid huge arguments, and, without guides [pissed off Chief, remember]
were wiped out in the winter snows crossing the Sierra Nevada.
Conversely, the Stephens group, formed up, made good time, followed
the advice of the Paiute guides provided by the Chief, and arrived in
Sacramento with more people than when they left [several babies born
on the way]. They spread out over northern and central California,
were instrumental in founding several towns which became cities today,
were active in government, and began some of the agricultural industry
that marks the Central Valley today. Legend has it that Stevens Creek
in San Jose is named for their leader, misspelling his name in the
process, although that may be urban legend too.
So what is the pass over the Sierra Nevada [originally the Lincoln
Hwy, then US40, and now I-80] named for? If life were fair, it would
be Stephens Pass with Stephens Lake at it's eastern base, after a
truly successful example of the western migration. But life is rarely
fair and it's Donner Pass and Donner Lake, named after the
dysfunctional party racked by homicides, dumb decisions and, it is
alleged, cannibalism, in a futile attempt to survive the winter.
Alfred Vail is not alone.
73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County
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Chris R. NW6V <mailto:[email protected]>
Friday, April 27, 2018 7:55 AM
Good Idea Wayne!
And I'll remind the assembled masses that the unsung hero in the story of
Morse code was a fellow named Alfred Vail - who played Wozniak to Morse's
"Steve Jobs." Vail pretty much invented the dash-dot code as we know
it, as
well as the hand key. But it's Morse's name, as owner of the company that
paid for it, on the patents. Sic transit Gloria.
Searching archives, I found a note where Morse urged Vail to increase the
spacing between the characters he was sending because they were running
together. Imagine that! Morse was the first guy ever to complain about
somebody's fist!
73 Chris NW6V
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2018 20:24:40 -0700
From: Wayne Burdick <[email protected]>
Subject:
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
No matter how busy I am tomorrow, I aim to make at least one QSO on this
coming Friday in honor of Samuel Morse?s birth (227 years ago!). I?ll be
dusting off my oldest hand key for the occasion, one with a leg strap and
Levi?s-style button that was used by the South African army circa WW2.
If you have an even older hand key, and you manage to get its contacts
cleaned in time for this auspicious date, please send me a photo of it.
I?ll collect the photos and post them on the Elecraft website photo
gallery.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
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--
=================================================
Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
17 Coventry Lane
Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
[email protected]
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
PSK and JT65 Forever!
=================================================
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