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Fig 1:    Admiralty "NATO" key
 

With Cover

 

Without cover

 

Custom mod

SOLD

Made by  Pryce Edwardes Ltd.  It is marked with a NSN 5805-99-541- 1439. Serial # P.E.S. 140.80  The cover of  this key is fiberglass. It weighs a hefty 3-1/2 lbs. The case ia 8-1/4" long by 3-1/4" wide. This one was brand new, taken out of the wrapper, direct from the UK. An On - Off switch, plus a little optioning for connections offers a variety of choices of operation up to the owner.  See detail better HERE. The spring is a leaf type reminiscent of the famous "Swedish" key.  Circa abt 1984

Fig 2:  Air Ministry, Type D, 
                             Ref No.10A/7373

With cover on

 

Without cover

SOLD

Land station  Air Ministry, Type D, Ref No.10A/7373 key 1/2  inch silver contacts, 7-1/8" long by 4 " wide, it weighs abt. 2 lb.  5-1/2 oz..  A lot of U.K. amateurs used  these to learn their CW, and took their  tests using one.  This particular key appears to have not ever been used and is in like new condition. Received direct from the U.K.

Fig. 3:   W.T. 8 AMP. No. 2 

SOLD

The U.K. version of our J-37 work horse during WWII.  It was made in many variations and found all over the British Empire. Well, just how many gold-plated WT-8AMP No. 2 keys does one run across?  This one comes from Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia.  It  is stamped on the bottom of the key: P.M.G. 1942 E.W.T.  P.M.G. stands for the "Post Master General". Some info on makers can be found HERE. Click HERE for a  conventional appearing key.  This one is stamped TMC 1940 1. The base is abt. 3-1/2" long x 1-5/8" wide. It  weighs in at < 8 oz.

Fig. 4:   A German Junker DBGM

 In their "can" they are an ugly duck
 

MORE 1    MORE 2

 But mounted on a beautiful
 polished, heavy brass base
they can be a lovely swan  
(I'm keeping the last one for ME)
 

Pronounced  "Yoon-ker" key, It was originally a military key.  DBGM is post war.  War-era keys were marked  D.R.P.  (Deutsches Reich  Patent) Some also are marked "Entstort". (Voltage- obviously a warning ) For more click Here.   My absolute favorite straight key I use constantly.  Simply perfect.  I've added a new soft padding inside the cupped knob that is a great aid to the finger tips. Here is a 2nd website, also dedicated to Junker. The base measures 7-3/4" by 3-1/4".  It weighs 2-1/4 lbs.  It is one of my very favorite keys to use on the air. These keys are still available direct from Morse  I have found on eBay only 2 D.R.P. Junker keys but both had very badly blistered levers.  They appeared to be thinly coated chrome, unlike post war keys.  I prefer the post war era versions.

Fig. 5:     Nazi Baumuster T1 key

Fig.6:   Australian 610 & 610A Clipsal key

CLIPSAL 610A

Click to see reverse side
SOLD

CLIPSAL 610

Click to see reverse side
SOLD

Fig. 7: Soviet Special Forces
     Key R-143

Fig. 8:  British key, Type 51
 

SOLD

Similar keys were used upon early   Vulcan and Comet aircraft.  Some   keys were made by Walters Electric.    No maker mark on this one.  Weight  11.9 Oz, 5-1/4" x 1-3/4" base.  To see  it  with cover on, click HERE.

Fig 9:    Chinese  D117 / K4 key

Fig 10:    Nazi German Maus

  SOLD

This is a very light weight, small footprint key approx. 3" x 1-1/2" with a "clamshell" enclosure that bares no real resemblance to tortoise shell.  Markings inside top cover are a paint stamped Nazi eagle and swastika, beneath which appears to be Wo. A.  770. Embossed into the plastic like material inside the hinged cover is a strange marking which appears to be a 2M over T1 circular logo. There is also a numeral 2.  On top of the base is an embossed 1944 inside a circle. The knob is also novel in that it is approximately a 2/3 circle.   These also appear with a black coating, and with a full knob. This specimen is mounted on a display base which is not part of the key. Ex - Murray Willer Collection.   COVER CLOSED    MARKINGS INSIDE COVER

Fig 11:    1941 Nazi Maus key

COVER OPEN
 

COVER CLOSED
 

SOLD

A very light weight, small footprint key approx. 3" x 1-1/2" with a "clamshell" enclosure. Markings inside top cover have a Mfg code "dbf" and a number "1" . On top of the base is embossed "1941" in a circle. This piece is mounted on a painted metal plate which probably in turn slipped into a fitted mount on a bulkhead or into a field type radio.  I have seen other descriptions which stated that these keys were used in Nazi German tanks and probably other vehicles as well. Stamped on top of the lever is "BA" inside an octagon . Another Mfg.code "TKP" is stamped on the bottom. Note the extended lever length.

Fig 12.    Canadian "bathtub" key

Fig. 13:     Early Japanese Naval
                           Wireless Spark Key

  Left side
 

  Right side
 

Rear
SOLD

This key allegedly was made by the Taiko Co. for the Japanese Navy. A similar key is shown by Tom Perera, W1TP, seen HERE  For additional views, HERE is the same key, I think, of one being sold on Ebay from the Murray Willer Collection.  I would say the metal parts are nickel plated brass.  These keys are rare and fetch a high price when able to be found.  They are sought by both military and spark key collectors.  The base measures 5" x 2-5/8" and it weighs abt. 12-1/2 oz.  The key in Tom's picture has three (3) binding posts where mine has only two (2).  Mine also lacks a piece that shows in his picture adjacent to the front contact.  I have mounting holes for this, as well as mounting holes for a cable hold down bracket, also missing on mine.  The heavy duty, changeable contacts tell me this indeed was an old wireless spark key.

Fig 14:   Swedish Military Key

Without cover
 

With cover
SOLD

Swedish Military CW Key.  Shown with case removed and on.  The tag reads:   I have a real suspicion that the maker of this version of Swedish key was made by the firm of Lennart Pettersson of Hoverberg, Sweden.  If anyone can confirm or disprove  this, please do contact me. BET is short for BETECKNING (DESIGNATION). The M-number is a military designation system used for all equipment in the Swedish Military. BEN is short for BENAMING which means NAME. TELEGRAFINYCKEL is TELEGRAPH KEY.  URSPR-BET is short for URSPRUNGLIG BETECKNING which means FORMER  or  ORIGINAL  designation.  (Thanks to Julius Sokolowski - Mystery solved!)

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