Low Head. Morse and operating history John Alcorn VK2JWA

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33 Spring St.
                                                                           LISMORE,       NSW.
The Curator,                                                                2480.
Low Head Pilot Station/Museum                                               14 July 1996
LOW HEAD. 7252,
Tasmania.
                         Ref Morse and Operating History


Dear Curator,


             About 20 years ago I visited your museum and was very impressed.
Thank you for your display. I am an Amateur Radio operator with an interest in
history, a Life Member of the Richmond River Historical Society and Hon
Historian of the 41st Battalion,      RNSWR at Lismore.   I was    in this unit     for 23
years.    I wrote a short history of the Unit in 1983.

My interest in radio prompted me to compile a list of operating codes called Q
codes as these were very fragmented and hard to source.
This was in 1987 and I have worked on it intermittently since then. Of course,
like all such things, it expanded like a plague with other tables etc added
in. Most are obsolete and of historic interest only.
I enclose a draft copy of my book as far as I have got to now.

Whilst there I took a photo of the Morse wall chart (Photo copy incl.). I want
to include details off this in my book. If I can get a good photo of this
chart I would like to include it the book as well.

From my misaligned photo I have got most of the information but would you
please obtain or confirm the following for me.

1.        A date of publication or printing if it’s there.
2.        Confirm or correct the words listed under the Letters.
3.        The address of the publisher.
4.        Can I get a good photo of the chart?

I    shall write to the publishers,   if they still exist,       and find out what    I   can
which I    shall forward to you for your information.

The info that I have is that Semaphore signalling was done frowm Low Head to
Launceston from about 1821 until 31 March 1858. Is this correct?
When the Semaphore ceased, was it replaced by Visual Morse or by an Electric
Telegraph? Or were the towers not used for signalling at all after this?

If they were used,    for how long did they continue to be used for signal
communications?

Is there a booklet etc about your Low Head Tower etc         ?    If there is,   please
send me one for which I    shall of course reimburse the cost etc.


Thank you for your assistance and for any info you can provide.

Yours sincerely,



                                        John Alcorn,   VK2JWA.