Refurb
This key directly below is probably the worst key I've ever used, it is / was a so called training key made in England sad to say, just after the WW2 probably for civil defence training during the cold war, how anyone could learn to send Morse code on it I don't know, the bearing is just a brass pin forced through the pivot block the round handle has a hole drilled in it to loosely accept the pin, the whole thing wriggles about so badly the end contact slides down the side of the handle, the rest stop is about two inches from the contact point and the tension spring placed between the two, the handle itself is just a light gauge brass rod, HOWEVER it only cost me £12 on Ebay, I've seen loads of these for sale so they are not uncommon and when you look at it all the hallmarks of a good key are there with most of the parts, they just need a little modification.
Below are the modifications I carried out on one Sunday Morning, I cut the bearing holder into two parts fitted two bearings and a small axle between them, I made a larger gauge handle with flats on each end to take the nice vintage wood knob and a slimmed section to give it a swept down look and the new axle which I sweated on for quickness, I removed the old stop and fitted it directly under the gap adjuster, plus a few twiddly bits, it is now a fine key, simple but very effective, I'd back this little modified key against many of the expensive commercial types and even a few classics
great fun to use and helped to pass the time away on a cold and rainy Sunday,