My Morse Code Key Collection

Plus thoughts and comments I'm not a serious collector of keys I just purchase the odd one or two that catches my eye, mainly to try them out or investigate their construction to further my Home made key hobby, so the descriptions are more on my  personal thoughts than anything else, and my collection is fairly fluid, some keys I only buy to try and sell them later, other are bargains I couldn't resist :) all part of the fun of Morse Keys.

Well I suppose although I have great fun using Morse Code on the Amateur Bands I should say I'm not very good at it, I bumble along at about 14wpm making mistakes as I go, which is probably the reason for my accumulating so many Morse Keys! That in the vain hope I may one day find one that increases my performance. My very first Key which I still have (right) is a Japanese copy of an American speed key, bought for me by an old friend of long ago whilst teaching me the code to pass my R.A.E its an average Amateur key cheap and cheerful but it does have adjustable ball bearings  and pleasant to use if you like a low slung key I'd say 6 out of 10 performance

My Second key obtained some time later is a version of the 8amp type of which there are hundreds of versions this has been with me for many years and has some time or another been used in all my CW projects as along with the speed key it was all I had! they are really nice general purpose keys, This old all brass type looks nice cleaned up, and for any non key enthusiast probably all one needs..  5 out of 10 performance

And what a stunner this key is, made by VK2DLF, if looks and finish were all there was to a key this would be tops, unfortunately the action is not all that good, simply as it is out of balance having no weight in the "nose" in fact it hasn't got a nose, sad to say I would only give this key an average 5 out of 10 for performance, if the maker could only put this sort of finish on to an exceptional key action (like my 80 series:) then it would be a world beater.

Time to ask the professionals, many of the old Ex services guys especially Navy tend to use the famous Nato key, this is a real monster of a key over a foot long, but has a nice action,  lightweight and finely balanced it's similar to the Swedish key inside using a flat spring pivot but slightly easier to adjust I've found, this one has the glass fibre case and is quite noisy, there is another version called the Navy key with a metal case, and this seems a lot quieter for some reason  8 out of 10.

In the meantime the key I keep coming back to and using, with its ultra smooth speedex feel is this Hi-Mound 708, quite an economy job but real value for money in my opinion a really nice key, I have fitted it with a softer spring as the original was to hard for my way of sending, and you do have to carefully adjust the bearing holder pressure for best results,  it doesn't have a lot of character with its gaudy plastic construction but having said that if you want a good cheap key this one takes a lot of beating, (after you have changed that horrible spring) I'm a bit biased with this key since I changed that spring so I'll give it a good 7 out of 10

And a fully automatic electronic key, one of the best of the vintage squeeze keys an old Hi-mound Manipulator, the electronics behind this key i.e. the electronic keyer itself was made for me by a good friend Nigel G4JYU, using a PIC micro controller, again its a bit above my skill level at the moment but one day...

This is an unusual key called a type 51, I believe it could have been made in Australia, and was used in the Vulcan A Bombers in a military role and also in a civilian role in the DeHaviland Comet Aircraft, so probably 50's vintage, It has a double spring tension arrangement which I can't seem to set light enough for me otherwise its a nice key if a little flimsy.. average performance 5 out of 10

And now a real Tank of a Morse key, made by Morse Equipment Ltd. Almost entirely made of Bakelite with a very long arm, an excellent action, light and crisp, and so quiet, it must be the quietest of keys just that its so big! and one has to say not the prettiest of keys, nonetheless worth its place in any shack or collection..   Performance wise it would be hard to beat in my opinion I must give it 9 out of 10

And this one was a REAL find, its a Danish design from the company MP Pedersen, AMPLIDAN Model 50713 it is without doubt a really nice key, very complex inside and has a similar feel to the Morse Equipment key above only a lighter action, I like the feel of this key very much, and has time has moved on I've began to appreciate its professional action and tried to emulate it in some of my Hand made keys, (shown with cover off) It is in my humble opinion one of the finest keys ever made, they don't come better than this, (except perhaps one of my own handmade 80 series on which the "feel" of this keys action is based ) Performance Simply the best 10 out of 10 I have since made a few keys from this design, you can see them Here  keys 120 121 122

And another Amplidan, only a bit more primitive than the Marine version above could be an export model or maybe an earlier design, not sure, any info greatly appreciated, superb key, limited my the simple bearings but a fine action 9 out of 10

And another of these strange little Marconi keys, this is the better known version with an odd V shaped bridge but they are basically the same key 6 out of 10 performance.

This Key is one of the famous Junker family, recently released from the once East German Republic, there are quite a few about and so available at a very reasonable price and I couldn't resist buying one, shown here with its military cover and base removed, I intend to go further and remove the metal work from the plastic base and mount the key on a nice Oak wood base to show it off, it is very well made precision key considering its military background, so many military keys are really utilitarian and feel it, this one is an exception to the rule, a nice key. 7 out of 10 performance

And now the Famous Schurr key, considered by some to be one of the finest keys in the world, in its mechanical construction and finish it is superb, again if that was all there was to Morse key design it certainly would be, my advice to anyone that wants a key that performs almost exactly like this Schurr is to buy a Junkers pictured above as the action feels almost identical, at the risk of screams from the pro's my evaluation of this key is that it has a very precise action but it lacks weight and doesn't have that feedback feel of a heavier well balanced nose contact key, I'm tempted to give it a 7 but owing to its superb workmanship I'll give it 8 out of 10.

And now a real old oddball of a key, it is obviously a gas or vapour key, made to work in a dangerous environment where a spark could cause an explosion, so it has a complete cover, in this case it is a brass box with a leather shroud to the key handle, I've been unable to find a maker or a history other than an approximate date of manufacture around 1920, and a possibility of it being once used in Hydrogen filled Airships. Can't really rate this key performance wise with its age hardened leather cover.

No points for guessing this key, one of the variety of Swedish keys made for the semi professional or Amateur market, another key that I can't help feeling relies a bit on its reputation, it is in my opinion one of the most frustrating keys to set up, with its variable contact height which affects the spring tensioner, when you finally get it to suit your way of sending its a nice key but typical of these flat spring tensioner keys, you either like them or hate them, can't make up my mind :() I'll give it the benefit of doubt and say 8 out of 10 performance

And here is my Hi-Mound 804, I had long wanted one of these now quite rare and sought after keys, It is a heavy key and very adjustable with its strange horizontal round spring tensioner and adjustable handle length, but at the end of the day it has that flat spring feel to it, some say like sending with an empty baked bean tin, another hate it or love it action, there is no doubt it is a finely made key, but vaguely disappointing I found, perhaps I expected to much from the heavy bright finish. 8 out of 10

And now the predecessor of the HK-804 the HK-802, this is a different kettle of fish completely, firstly it is Heavy! weighing 1.2kg, and it is a very fine key key, although it is another spring type pivot type it has a much nicer feel to it than the 804 above,  a soft machine like action almost silent, I've tried most spring pivot keys and made a few but this one is the best by far, it is well made and nicely adjustable with a sliding knob, the front under slung gap adjuster is a little difficult to get at but that's being picky, this one seems to be an early type with a contact shorter on the upper left of the body, all in all an excellent key 9 out of 10.

And to complete this little trio of Hi-Mound keys the almost unknown HK-902 this key has got to be 10 out of 10 for innovation nothing about this key is standard, it uses wire levers on cones for adjustment, the adjusters being on the knob end of the key it also has compressed rubber grommets on adjustable legs for stability, and of course the whole of the mechanism is enclosed in a crystal cover, however the action of the key is not that good lacking in weight and also suffers from the "baked bean tin" feel of most of the spring pivot type keys, only 6 out of 10 for performance.

Another German key, this is the little "Mouse" there are variations of this key this particular one is the type that has a half moon knob, and seems to be quite rare these days, it is almost entirely made of a sort of Bakelite, as keys go it is pretty primitive, typical German Army, performance is very average I'd say about 5 out of ten

Another strange little Bakelite key, made by the French company Dyna for use in commercial aircraft of the time, very quiet in operation, easy to adjust with its top controls but the action is a little on the stiff side for me. average 5 out of 10

This is a very modern key made by ITT Marine called a TK76 flat spring type, construction is stripped to the bone with a preset tension screw and plastic cover, nice key though above average performance 7 out of 10 I'd say.

This is a French Saram key, I have been looking for one of these for a long time mainly to see how the unusual mechanism worked, I really like this key, so much so that I built a look a like version, I think the designers of this key deserve a cheer for breaking away from traditional key design, men after my own heart, and it works well, smaller than I imagined, but a responsive firm action 7 out of 10 (extra points for the design)

And now a very old Lindholm and Wikstrom, I've liked this key since the first time I saw a picture of one a couple of years back, so much so I even made a copy never thinking I'd own one, It has restored my faith in old keys, usually vintage keys have a pretty poor action but not this one, it is quite excellent, smooth and effortless to use, a real classy lady 9 out of 10 (should be 8 really but an extra point for it's classy looks :)

And this one is a real prize, an early Oller the Grandfather of the famous Swedish designs above and below, 9 out of 10, lovely action and looks to match,

This is the Military version of the Ericsson key, it has a simplified rake adjuster and the front terminals come out horizontal, I bought this key as a wreck, the key had been dropped and the front contact tower was twisted out of shape and some terminals and adjusters were missing, It has been completely stripped down cleaned and re-varnished replica parts made and given a nice polish, now looks as good as new, excellent action 9 out of 10..

And this heavy lady I believe is an Ericsson though not completely sure as it is unmarked, and is very similar to the Oller above but with a more complicated contact and terminal structure, a beautiful vintage key with an action to match 9 out of 10

And this is the latest version of the Ericsson family of keys a Swedish Military key, to be honest this is about as good as it gets for simplicity of design and performance, with a superb pedigree everything about this key speaks quality, this one has a complex contact arrangement but there are simplified versions, an excellent key 9 out of 10 for performance.

This key is an old H.White 1918 double current key, whenever I think I have done well with my Homebrew keys I look at this one and it puts me firmly in my place, the workmanship is really Excellent, however as a working key goes it is pretty awful, probably due to all the relay contacts hanging on the action, a really collectable key though, I can't really rate it as I'm sure it could never have been designed as a fast easy to use key, more of a slow signalling device. (shown with the lid off)

This is a French Jardillier Key, made for French special forces, it is a very small key ideal for mobile working, the action of the key can be greatly improved by replacing the original spring with a softer one, they are becoming quite rare, as a working key I'll give it 6 out of 10.

This is a small key by Telefunken Stockholm, a real miniature gem of a key with all the things I like, front contacts and can be adjusted to quite a light touch, needs to be bolted down on to something, a nice neat little key with a reasonable action 7 out of 10

I bought this key to go with my Wireless Set 46, it is a flame proof design probably from the US with a transmit receive switch added, I wasn't hoping for much but I must say I was impressed with the action of this key really precise and machine like, one of the best for a small key that I've used 8 out of 10

This is my folding key, I bought it as a "British" folding key I assume it is from a "Fullerphone" and early WW1 signalling box, It is very well made with front contacts and a folding arm and quite usable, unlike many vintage keys pity about the black paint but it is original, nice key I've wanted one for a long time. 7 out of 10

And this is not a "Real" Morse key at all although it looks the part, it is a Railway signalling key, probably mounted vertically and used to send a series of bell codes for train signalling operations, VERY heavy spring loaded action almost impossible to send Morse code on so no rating.

And this is my early RAF spark key, so finely made, and has a little window to view the spark, almost everyone that collects keys wants to own one of these little gems, including me, quite rare now and getting expensive, not much of an action with all the spark contacts on the end of the arm but it can be used, 5 out of 10

Now a Lorenz ZTK129 this is a forunner of the Baumuster type keys, I'm not sure of the family line but I think keys like this were made for Tekefunken by Lorenz, this one I assume was made just before WW2, it is quite lightweight and has a typical German Scherr Junkers feel about it interesting collectors key but only 6 out of 10 for performance.

This key is a real strange one, obviously it was once mounted on the front panel of a transmitter of some sort where it could be folded up when not in use, probably German as they did use this idea on many WW2 German radios, and it has a surprisingly good action, and very well made, performance I'd say 7 out of 10

This is my latest acquisition it was purchased as an early Ericsson key, it really is an odd ball with its vertical contacts, but it has a surprisingly good action, very adjustable and pleasant to use, I'm hoping to find some more info on it,

This key is an AE Radio  S.I.T.A MA-1 reading from the label, otherwise no other info whatsoever, which is the reason I bought it, so anyone that knows anything about this key I'd love to hear from them, the action and construction is similar to many German / Russian keys, nice light action not exceptional but useable, 6 out of 10 I'd say

And at last a Marconi PS213 another key that has a hazy past, there are quite a few variations of this design, I'm not completely sure about this one I think its a very early one as it has none of the Nickel plating or insulation of later versions, this is the state in which I purchased it, I have since fitted a tension spring so I could test it, but otherwise kept it as it is, And this is some key, the action is quite superb, easily a rival to the Amplidan, 10 out of 10 for performance a Classic key..

And my lovely Italian RG-1, made out of Bakelite, a sweeping design very nice to look at, sadly the metal used in its original construction was poor quality and corroded badly, here I have faithfully copied the damaged parts in brass and nickel plated them, if fitted with a heavy base it is a workable key, about 5 out of 10 problem being it has no weight but worth keeping for its historic WW2 value

And my Begali Blade, reported by some to be the ultimate Morse key, well if looks and price were the only yard sticks maybe it would be but sad to say I don't think it is anything special, its a standard flat spring pivot job, quite resistive with not a lot of "feel" to it, heavy on gloss which appeals to the American markets, I'll give it 8 out of 10 and some of that is for engineering quality.

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