kk4dw7.htm

	Page 7 Index
Fig 1	Kent SK1 Standard Morse Key
Fig 2	Kent KT1 Professional Key
Fig 3	Kent TK1 Titanic Key
Fig 4	Kent VK1 Vail Key
Fig 5	Kent-2 dual key
Fig 6	L.E.M. Moulds Key
Fig 7	L. Pettersson Swedish Key
Fig 8	L.T.A. Modelo Marconio Key
Fig 9	G4ZPY Nickel plated pump key
Fig 10	WB9LPU Marconi Key
Fig 11	Customization of an old key
Fig 12	KENPRO KK-50
Fig 13	Vanslette Replica Boston Key
Fig 14	L.M. Ericsson original Swiss key
Fig 15	Unknown Swedish Military key
Fig 16	(Future)
HOME	( DIRECTORY )

Fig. 1: Kent Low LIne Morse Key

SOLD

This is one of three Kent Engineers (UK) current production straight keys on a wooden base. Alpha-Delta distributes these in the U.S. as an SK-1. Kent calls them in their ads their "Low Line Morse Key".

It is about 7-3/4" long, 2-3/4" wide and it weighs over 1lb. 5 oz. It was once imported by Palomar Engineers and sold as a "PK-105" Palomar later replaced Kent with the Peter Jones Keys.

Fig. 2: Kent KT-1 Professional Key

SOLD

Kent Engineers (UK) key on a heavy metal base. Sold only directly from Kent Engineers, England. It is their Professional Key. or KT-1. It is about 6-3/8" long, x 2-1/2" wide and weighs over 3 lbs. It also has Ball- race bearings, silver plated contacts.

Fig. 3: Kent Titanic replica

SOLD

Kent Engineers replica of the Titanic key. Distributed originally by Alpha Delta in the U.S. as a Model TK-1, and now discontinued. Mine was the Serial # 0001, and was the very key photographed for all the ads used by Kent and Alpha- Delta up to now. Kent sent this very same key to the President of Alpha-Delta, Don Tyrell, who after the ad photos were done eventually presented it to James Spencer the photographer, from whom I bought it. This key is about 7-1/2" long, 2-3/4
wide and weighs 1lb 1oz. See the original photo HERE.

Fig. 4: Kent Vail Lever
Correspondent replica

SOLD

The original key was allegedly used by Samuel F. B. Morse in his 1844
demonstration which became the reference for key designs over many years and has changed little to this day.

* The KENT Replica Is based on the original key displayed today in the Smithsonian Institute and Vail's own documentation. See HERE.

* Base: 53mm X 166mm / 2.1" X 6.53"
* Height: 76.5mm / 3"
* Weight: .5 Kg / 1.1 Lbs

Fig 5: The Kent-2

SOLD

This dual key is referred to just as a "Kent-2" and is a brass dual straight key and iambic paddle. Up till just recently, I had only seen it referred to on another website. Someone alerted me via email as to the fact that these were still available in limited quantities from England from Waters & Stanton, here at their Web address:

www.wsplc.com .

Click on "products" then "special offers"
and scroll down to find it. Mine ran me a total with shipping of only $121.46 and it arrived in record time - 5 days after I submitted the online order. The base is ~ 4" x 6" and it weighs abt. 4 lb. 7/8 oz. It comes with attached cable but no plugs.

Mine came in this light gray base, but later editions appear to be black. Since my initial reporting, Kent does now refer to them.

Fig. 6: L.E.M. Moulds Key

This is another UK key manufactured by
L.E.M. Moulds, of Blackpool, England.
This key has long since been discontinued
and apparently not very many were made.
It is about 7-1/4" long x 2-3/4" wide and it
weighs 1 lb 3 oz. The distinctive feature is
the central "Nut". The lever is suspended
by a single ball bearing on each side.

A more typical appearing LEM key courtesy of the collection of Wyn Davies, Wales, UK

Fig.7: Pettersson's Swedish Key

SOLD

Modern version of a "Swedish Key" by
Lennart Pettersson of Hoverberg, Sweden. SN 6679.

These keys currently are offered for sale at Morse Express for right at $200 new, + shipping.

The base is 4" long by 2" wide and it weighs just under 1 lbs 14.75 oz. See HERE for an Ericsson original Swedish key.

Fig. 8: An LTA Modelo "Marconio" key

A (Llaves Telegraficas Artesanas) hand
key made in the Balearic Islands of Spain.
This is a Modelo "Marconio" , gold plated brass straight key. I've long thought that
LTA gold plated keys were a box store value. $119.95 delivered. If you visit the islands it would be well worth an out of the way stop to pick up a selection on site.

The base is 5-1/2" long by 3-3/16" wide.
It weighs in at only about 15 oz. They
make a plain brass Model for most of their production keys but with the slight added charge for gold plate, why would any sane person not go for it ? Penny wise, pound
foolish in my estimation. Sold in the USA by Morse Express.

This particular key was the SKCC SN 43.

Fig. 9: G4ZPY Grand Luxe
Pump Key

Made by Gordon Crowhurst. Gordon's keys are made under the name "G4ZPY Paddle Keys International" which were based in Orskirk, Lancashire, England. For awhile, G4ZPY keys were available through Morse Express until Gordon's health started to wane.

This key is heavily nickel plated brass
on mahogany, and weighs about 2-1/4 lb.
It is 7" long by 4" wide. This one is about 10 years old and came to me via New Zealand.

Fig. 10: WB9LPU Marconi
key

SOLD

Richard A. Meiss, WB9LPU, made this key for me. Richard is more known for his paddles and his ongoing quest to invent the perfect Parkwood Double bug. 3 lb, 6-1/4
oz. total weight, its base is a piece of soapstone from Maine. It has ball bearing pivots. The original key it is patterned after was of Newfoundland white soapstone. See HERE.

Fig. 11: A Customized ex - military key.

SOLD

This key is an ex Murray Willer customized piece which I feel originally was very similar to the one shown HERE.. I find very interesting the horizontal drilling through the lever at the rear with a screw to tighten whatever went through there. Was this perhaps originally a spark key and an attachment passed through this hole to activate or deactivate some portion of the radio device ?

It is very possible that in the post spark era, they no longer required that switch activation and it was modified for use with more modern radios.

The lever on this key is 7-1/2" in length. You can see that whomever did this customizing has milled the lever considerably adding to the beauty.

Brian Willer sold me this key. Notes stated it had been made by ''Radio Netherlands'' personnel possibly more accurate to say customized as a hobby project. The bearings in my model are made in the USA. The knob too is custom.

It has a very nice feel and actually I prefer this flat knob to the original doorknob type with the spark shield.

Fig. 12: Kenpro KK-50

I just recently acquired this scarce key
on EBay. It is Japanese in origin but I just cannot turn enough stones to put together a complete story. I gather that this company was Kenpro Kogyo Co. Ltd. which now is a subsidiary of Vertex Standard Co. LTD. Vertex is known for its other subsidiary Yaesu probably by more Hams. If anyone has some details on this key, please email me with them and I'll add them. I have never seen another illustrated or for sale anywhere in the past few years.

It is a really nicely made key, 1lb, 10-3/8
oz. in weight. It's base measures 6"x 3-3/8"approximately. I've seen some brief fond references to it but there are no known reviews I could find.

The knob is unusually formed with an
eccentric spark shield. Contact spacing is at the front contact itself with the rear post being apparently fixed.

MORE VIEWS

Fig. 13: Replica of a 1911 Clapp - Eastham
"Boston Key" by K. Vanslette

SOLD

I've generally found that replicas of famous keys are far better made, and far more attractive to the eye (and of far better material) than the original. This key, SN 96041, made by Ken Vanslette, no doubt in 1996, was no exception. It has a most delightful action and is exceptionally quiet. It may very well end up being put on the air soon. The low slung lever and flat knob suit my sending style to a Tee.

Obviously these were spark keys with the huge contact area. These look abt 3/4" in diameter.

The brass tag on top reads: " CLAPP-EASTHAM" c: 1911 "BOSTON KEY". It weighs 2 lb, 7-1/8 oz. The marble base measures 6" x 3-1/2" x 7/8". It has felt on the bottom which I think I am going to remove and put a non-skid rubber instead as I do not like keys to be skating around on me while I am using them. Felt is very slippery.

Vanslette sent these keys out in a heavy oak presentation case. The box itself is 12" x 7" x 3-1/4" with a removable lid. It was also extremely nicely made.

Fig 14: L.M. Ericsson early
original Swedish Key.

This is an over 100 year old Swedish key (1895 ?) made by L.M. Ericsson Co.
Stockholm Sweden. A rare, highly sought after, classic, collectible key.

Ericsson was originally an employee of Oller. This key is smaller in size than I had originally envisioned it from pictures. The base measures approx. 4-3/4" x 3-1/8". It weighs 1 lb, 6-3/8 oz.

Ericsson remains as a major telephone
equipment supplier in the world. The key has been ever so carefully disassembled and cleaned, using only the finest gentle metal polishing methods.

When I took this key apart, most parts I found were stamped with "38". Was this a series number? Other Ericsson items were similarly marked. This is a true antique, unlike many posted on EBay as such.

Fig. 15: Swedish Military key

This Key came to me from Prague, Czechoslovakia, allegedly from a
famous private collection. I have been told by a collector from Sweden that these keys were made for and used by the Swedish military. (1930 - 1940 ?) It is built to an Ericsson style pattern but is post Ericsson.

Weight of this impressive key is 1 lb -11.5 oz. Overall length is > 7-1/2". The base measures 5 - 13/16" x 3- 15/16" so it would appear to be a metric measurement.

Two holes drilled through the base allow screw attachments to the operating surface. I haven't completely diagnosed the contact arrangements yet. Contact is made on the upswing as with most Swedish style keys however. I suspect the contact arrangement facilitated requirements of the type radio it worked with such as T/R switching.