I figured this question was at least ham radio adjacent, so hopefully someone here can answer. I can find lots of info on when commercial CW ceased in the late 90s, as well as Western Union's closure of its telegram service in 2006, but no word on when land-line Morse code went obsolete. I know teleprinters were already in commercial use by the turn of the 20th century, but I've also seen references to Morse telegraph stations being operational past this time. A video I found on YT about the KPH maritime station mentions that there was a wire telegraph connecting two of their buildings, and that the operators had to know both American and International Morse in order to copy transmissions from ships and relay them along the wire.
Given the fact that we still have 60 year old COBOL software in active use in 2021, I'd have to guess there were a few straight keys going into the 1950s or so.
View online or download for later
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41160
All of the images and illustrations in the book are listed as well so if you are less interested in reading, and want to just look at some unique and interesting bits of technological and mechanical history that is easily done as well. The nice thing about this book especially for the time that it was published is how readable it is.
From the table of contents:
Wireless telegraphy -- High-speed telegraphy -- The telephone; wireless telephony -- The phonograph; the rotographophone; the telephonograph -- The telautograph -- Modern artillery; rifles; machine guns; heavy ordnance; explosives; in the gun factory -- Dirigible torpedoes -- Submarine boats -- Animated pictures -- The great Paris telescope -- Photographing the invisible; photography in the dark -- Solar motors -- Liquid air -- Horseless carriages -- High-speed railways -- Sea expresses -- Mechanical flight -- Type-setting by machinery -- Photography in colours -- Lighting
There are many misconceptions about the technological capabilities of the late 18/early 1900's among the general public. Found in this book are some really wonderful insights and valuable timeline perspectives on the abilities of the era as well as the attitude towards them. As always, it's also very interesting to see a lot of this discussion and wonder what could have been had a small handful of events gone just a little differently. Here are a few excerpts on the more popular topics:
Regarding Sun Motors & Solar Power:
"In America, especially in the dry, arid regions, where fuel is scarce and the sun shines pitilessly day after day, all the year round, sun-catchers of various types have been erected and worked successfully. Dr. William Calver, of Washington, has built in the barren wastes of Arizona huge frames of mirrors, travelling on circular rails, so that they may be brought to face the sun at all hours between sunrise and sunset. Dr. Calver employs no less than 1600 mirrors. As each of these mirrors develops 10-15 degrees of heat it is obvious, after an appeal to simple arithmetic, that the united efforts of these reflectors should produce the tremendous temperature 16,000-24,000 degrees, which, expressed comparatively, means the paltry 90 degrees in the shade beneath which we grow restive multiplied hundreds of times. Hitherto the greatest known heat had been th
... keep reading on reddit ➡#Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) Bill
###A ##BILL ###TO ###Amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 to permit the reception of air traffic communications. BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: —
#####1 Amendment (1) The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 is amended by inserting:
"(3A) A person does not commit an offence under this Act if they receive civil air traffic communication."
into section 48 and renumbering accordingly.
#####2 Short title, Commencement, and Extent
(1) This Act may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Amendment) Act 2019.
(2) This Act extends to the areas specified by section 118 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
(3) This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
Introduced by the Honourable /u/sam-irl MP as a Private Member’s Bill.
This division shall end on the 22nd.
Division! Clear the lobby.
B851 - Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) Bill
https://www.reddit.com/r/MHOC/comments/c7g99g/b851_wireless_telegraphy_amendment_bill_2nd/
This division shall close on the 7th July.
###Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) Bill
###A ##BILL ###TO ###Amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 to permit the reception of air traffic communications. BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: —
#####1 Amendment (1) The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 is amended by inserting:
"(3A) A person does not commit an offence under this Act if they receive civil air traffic communication."
into section 48 and renumbering accordingly.
#####2 Short title, Commencement, and Extent
(1) This Act may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Amendment) Act 2019.
(2) This Act extends to the areas specified by section 118 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
(3) This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
Introduced by the Honourable /u/sam-irl MP as a Private Member’s Bill.
Reading ends on the 24th
#Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) Bill
###A ##BILL ###TO ###Amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 to permit the reception of air traffic communications. BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: —
#####1 Amendment (1) The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 is amended by inserting:
"(3A) A person does not commit an offence under this Act if they receive civil air traffic communication."
into section 48 and renumbering accordingly.
#####2 Short title, Commencement, and Extent
(1) This Act may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Amendment) Act 2019.
(2) This Act extends to the areas specified by section 118 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
(3) This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
Introduced by the Honourable /u/sam-irl MP as a Private Member’s Bill.
This reading shall end on the 18th with a division being posted the day after.
Order, order!
#Wireless Telegraphy (Amendment) Bill
###A ##BILL ###TO ###Amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 to permit the reception of air traffic communications. BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: —
#####1 Amendment (1) The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 is amended by inserting:
"(3A) A person does not commit an offence under this Act if they receive civil air traffic communication."
into section 48 and renumbering accordingly.
#####2 Short title, Commencement, and Extent
(1) This Act may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Amendment) Act 2019.
(2) This Act extends to the areas specified by section 118 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006.
(3) This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
Introduced by the Honourable /u/sam-irl MP as a Private Member’s Bill.
This reading shall end on the 2nd July 2019.
