Above is one of my first attempts, it is a hybrid made from two defunct keys, the remains of an old WT 8amp and a RAF Bathtub, I often wonder what future key collectors would make of this unusual key if its history was lost :)
| REFURBISHED KEYS |
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Keys that I have modified or refurbished in some way |
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There is a saying that "You can't make a silk purse from a Sow's ear" and to
some extent that is true, but it is possible to make a very nice or
interesting Morse code key from one that is either badly damaged or from
salvaged parts or similar, these are some keys that I have had great fun in
modifying in some way. |
Above is one of my first attempts, it is a hybrid made from two defunct keys, the remains of an old WT 8amp and a RAF Bathtub, I often wonder what future key collectors would make of this unusual key if its history was lost :) |
 This was once an old RAF Spark key, unfortunately the handle was originally made from a cheap sort of Alloy that corroded and fell apart so I made a new handle for it out of brass, it looks the part and would have been a collectors joy in an original condition, sadly refurbished ones are quite common owing to the degraded handles. |
 This key is a fairly modern Lennart Petersson type, all I did here was to clean it up an Nickel plate it, which completely transforms it, having just purchased my Nickel Plating kit it was my first attempt at plating and I was very pleased with the result. |
 This key is an original RAF "D type" spark key standard RAF issue just before and during WW2, sadly perfect specimens are hard to find as usually the Bakelite cases or brass cable clamps are missing or broken as was the case with this one, So I removed it from its original base and remounted it on a nice piece of Delrin, cleaned it up fitted some nice knurled terminals and Nickel Plated it, and it is now a fine key |
 This was a lovely conversion, made from a defunct Nato Key with missing parts, what original parts were left I Nickel plated and then made some new adjusters with a tommy bar tightener and a spring loaded click stop, a superb key. |
 This was another RAF Bathtub conversion, still retaining the original mechanism but being mounted on a new base and top producing a strange unusual design .. |
 This is a fairly recent conversion or rebuild of a combination of old unknown vintage key parts and the remains of a "D type" into an early Marconi Aircraft key, it has an eye catching style, the very essence of a vintage Morse key, lovely to look at and something to keep even if you are not a CW enthusiast |
 This was a real "Fun" project, changing one of these very common Japanese J37 keys into an unusual front contact type, it produced a key with a very soft and almost silent action, and yet still retains its glossy "magpie" finish |
 And a WT 8amp Mk111 the origin Mk111's are very common and one has to say it, unpleasant keys to use, they usually have a resistive heavy action, this conversion was to remove the horrible plastic body and replace it with a lightweight brass one, shaved down at the back with a lightweight spring and lollypop knob, to give it a "Fingertip" action, you operate this key by resting your wrist on the operating surface and use your index finger to depress the handle, a relaxing if slow (and frowned on) way of sending, a nice little simple key made from a monster. |
 This is an old J37 type key which I spotted at a Rally, it looked old to me and very well made, the rope knurling on the adjusters is superb, on refurbishing it I found it was solid brass except for the handle which although being steel had been copper plated? so I nickel plated the handle slide switch and conductor, If anyone recognises this key I love to here from them |
 Another lovely refurb job from an old Cold War training key most of the original parts are used just the addition of ball race bearings and new shaped handle, more pics here |