Note
The Mecograph semi-automatic key, often referred to as a "bug" (a nickname for semi-automatic telegraph keys), was a significant competitor to the more famous Vibroplex. Invented by William O. Coffe of Cleveland, Ohio, the first Mecograph key was patented in 1904.
Unlike the Omnigraph which was primarily a training device, the Mecograph was designed for sending actual Morse code messages faster and with less effort than a traditional hand key, helping to alleviate "glass arm" or carpal tunnel syndrome that plagued telegraphers.
Here's what made the Mecograph unique:
Operating Principle: While both Mecograph and Vibroplex keys produced automatic dots and manual dashes, the Mecograph operated on a different principle. Early Mecographs featured a vertical swinging pendulum. The dot lever had a spring that put tension on the pendulum at rest. When the dot lever was moved, tension was released, causing the pendulum to oscillate and produce dots. This design was claimed to require less force to operate than a Vibroplex.
Design Evolution: The initial Mecograph (1904) was described as "bizarre looking." Later models, such as the Model 3 and Model 4, saw design changes, including the replacement of brass bases with steel (often with a distinctive "Japanned" or "tiger stripe" finish). The Model 4 also simplified construction by replacing expensive machined parts with an assembled frame.
Mecograph Premier: This was a major departure, with a keying lever in-line with the pendulum, operating more like a Vibroplex.
There was significant legal friction between Horace Martin (Vibroplex) and Mecograph. It wasn't a straightforward case of Martin suing Mecograph and winning easily; rather, it was a more complex series of events that played out in this way. William O. Coffe, the inventor of the Mecograph, actually sued Horace Martin for patent infringement. In 1908, Coffe won this case. However, the court's ruling was somewhat unusual in that it declined to force Martin to pay damages or to stop manufacturing the Vibroplex.
Martin had also filed for an improvement patent on his Autoplex in 1904, which included a design for an all-mechanical, motorless key. While it was granted, Mecograph accused it of being a "paper patent," hastily put together after Martin saw their keys.
The legal battles and competition eventually led to a different outcome than a simple lawsuit victory. In 1913, Horace Martin and his partner J. E. Albright ultimately bought Mecograph and its patents. This acquisition effectively ended the independent production of Mecograph keys and consolidated the patents for semi-automatic telegraph keys under Martin's control.
So, while Coffe initially won a patent infringement suit against Martin, the story concluded with Martin's company acquiring Mecograph, which allowed them to own all the relevant patents and eliminate a significant competitor. This acquisition also paved the way for Martin's company to aggressively pursue other "clone" manufacturers who were making similar keys.
The Mecograph represented an important chapter in the development of semi-automatic telegraph keys, contributing to the evolution of faster and more ergonomic Morse code transmission.
