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The device consisted of a number of field-configurable rods that were mounted
in between two end-pieces or brackets. Each rod consisted of a number of
conducting and non-conducting elements that together formed the dashes and
dots of (part of) a morse coded message
[1].
The non-conducting parts were made of black bakelite, whilst the conducting
elements were probably made of brass. A total of 18 rods could be constructed
this way. Once the message was complete, the relevant rods would be mounted
in between the two end-brackets, and a wiper contact — connected to the
transmitter's morse key input — was used to play back the message,
by wiping over the rods at a constant speed.
SQUIRT was supplied in two metal containers — marked A and B — one of which
is shown in the image on the right [1].
The full contents of each container is listed and described in the
original wartime Operating Instructions
[A].
It is rumoured (but not confirmed) that SQUIRT was never used in an operational
context, due to the lack of recording and decoding equipment.
This seems strange, as the British had access to tape and wire recording
devices, and could even write morse code signals onto paper strips with
an undulator. 1 It seems far more likely that it was simply to large and cumbersome to use.
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SQUIRT was not the only attempt to create a
morse burst transmitter during
WWII. It is known, for example, that the Polish Radio Service in England
created TELMA,
a device that could read morse code from a printed paper strip
and transmit it at high speed.
At present, no further information about SQUIRT is available. Any further
information and photographs would be much appreciated.
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During WWII, undulators were used by the British to record the
characteristics of hand-generated morse code signals, in order to determine
the identity of the operator, in the same way as with handwriting.
Not to be confused with a modern high-enery physics insertion device,
which is also known as an Undulator.
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Document kindly provided by Louis Meulstee [1].
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- Louis Meulstee, Wireless for the Warrior, volume 4 — Squirt
ISBN 0952063-36-0, September 2004
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Saturday 17 August 2019. Last changed: Wednesday, 02 September 2020 - 12:56 CET.
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