This 100-Year-Old Morse Code Machine Still Works! SPARK-Con 2025

While I was at SPARK-Con 2025 — the ARRL Midwest Convention at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, MO, I met Jeff Darby, KS0JD, from the Marshall Ensor Memorial Organization. Jeff shared the fascinating story of Marshall Ensor, pioneer in amateur radio education from Olathe, Kansas. His historic home — now the Marshall Ensor Memorial Museum & National Historic Site — preserves decades of radio history and innovation. 🏠 The site features the 1890 farmhouse and original peg barn, filled with vintage tools, radio transmitters, receivers, handcrafted furniture, and artifacts used by the Ensor family. Towering above it all is the iconic 80-foot radio tower, symbolizing Marshall’s lifelong dedication to teaching ham radio. 📻 In this video, Jeff shows me one of the museum’s most unique artifacts — a 1922 Omnigraph, a mechanical Morse code trainer that Marshall used to learn CW. This century-old device automatically sends Morse code using rotating disks with raised dots and dashes, mimicking the rhythm of real telegraph transmissions. 💬 If you love ham radio history, Morse code, or vintage communications gear, this video is a must-watch. 🎥 See the 100-year-old Omnigraph in action — and hear how the Ensor legacy continues to inspire amateur radio operators today. 📍 Be sure to check out the Historic Ensor Park and Museum in Olathe, Kansas. To learn more, visit 👉 https://www.ensorparkandmuseum.org/ ⬇️GEAR I USE⬇️ –––––––––––––––––––– ★★As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.★★ 🛒Many Things I Use Can Be Found In My Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ki5irehamradio 🥾Check Out My My Ultra Portable POTA Kit: https://www.amazon.com/shop/ki5irehamradio/list/1S8JOQ9AJ4JQR –––––––––––––––––––– ⬇️LINKS TO OTHER STUFF⬇️ ★★All links are affiliate links where possible. As an affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. These links help support the channel and make videos like this possible.★★ 📡ABR Industries (Affiliate): https://abrind.com/?sld=ki5irehamradio Use code "ki5irehamradio10" on qualifying purchases. 📡Alpha Antenna (Affiliate): https://www.alphaantenna.com/?aff=22 Using this link when ordering from Alpha Antenna helps support the channel. 📡Bridgecom Systems (Affiliate): https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/?ref=ki5irehamradio Using this link when ordering from Bridgecom helps support the channel. 📡Ham Radio Prep (Affiliate): hamradioprep.com Use code "KI5IRE" to save 10% on qualifying purchases. 📡Radioddity (Affiliate): https://www.radioddity.com/?ref=ki5irehamradio Save $15 on qualifying purchases by using coupon code "KI5IRE" at checkout. 🌐The Ham Radio Logging Software I Use in the Shack (Only available for MacOS and iOS): https://www.dl2rum.de/rumsoft/RUMLog.html 🌐The Ham Radio Logging Software I Use Portable/POTA/SOTA: https://ham2k.com/apps/polo/ 🎵The Music I Use In Most of My Videos (Non-Affiliate): https://artlist.io/ ⬇️FOLLOW ME ON OTHER PLATFORMS⬇️ 🌎My Blog: https://ki5ire.weebly.com 🎥Subscribe for More Content: youtube.com/@HamRadioHQ2 🌎KI5IRE Ham Radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamRadioHQ 📸Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HamRadioHQ/ 📡X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/KI5IRE 📡Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ki5ire-ham-radio 📡Join the KI5IRE Ham Radio Discord: https://discord.gg/mpqnu58eJz