Morse Paddle in Progress

[Joules]

Been a while since a Morse key being made, so here’s my attempt.   Still to add 3.5mm stereo socket for wiring and make the wood paddle to go over the wire loop.

[Joules]

Delayed as I was awaiting parts only for them to arrive and have an M6 x 0.75 thread.    Went to Arceuro site only to find them winding up business and none of the tooling I needed in stock 

Cromwell Tools to the rescue, so with new taps and dies on with the Morse Paddle.

Final bit of milling to do, I had intended to use a 3.5mm stereo jack as everyone else does.   However my Steam Punk-ish design called for something else.   As I had a bag full of audio leads I decided to go with a phono lead, more in keeping with the materials used.   This meant my ground screw was no longer needed, seen in the upper middle.

Finally completed paddle with phono's installed and the wood paddle fitted and trimmed ready for use, errr it still needs wiring.

Nothing fancy, No, I really mean nothing fancy.  I crimped some connectors only for them to be too large and potential for shorting or standing proud of the base.   They got cut off and the remaining crimp tinned and wire soldered direct.   The wire isn't great but it's what I had on hand.   Check for shorts, none found so paint wires in clear nail varnish to lock them in place and offer insulation round the terminals.

Last job, hook up the paddle and give it a test.   I actually shot a 17 second video, but can't figure how to get it off this iPhone and in a format that isn't stupidly large ???     It does work, and works a lot better than I can send.   Still learning Morse, do a bit every day (not on air) using a small electronic keyer that handles the paddle.   You hold the paddle to each side for continuous dit's or dah's

 

[Joules]

Well, lets see if this works.   Video more manageable size...
 

[vtsteam]

 

So cool, Joules!

Sorry I missed the start of this thread -- away on vacation to Quebec city, then brought daughter back to college in NYC.

So you're practicing Morse code!

I'm expecting a cat's whisker receiver next, and a looooong antenna. Quaker oats box coil, at least on this side of pond!

Oh also Fahnestock clip wiring on a wooden cigar box lid chassis!

[Joules]

Cheers Steve, got a large wire dipole I can put up after dark.    This winters build project is a QRP Labs QMX+

https://qrp-labs.com/qmxp.html

No I am not a HAM radio guy, but I do like to build and tinker.   The QMX+ can also be used on the 11m band (CB radio SSB)  I have friend in Poland I will try to contact on the 11m band.   Despite the QMX+ not being an approved CB, it more than complies with our RF power standards, which is more than can be said for most radios and operators around here.   Just have to see what the future brings, I do have a couple of CB radio's that can also be used as they support CW....   Again, offers a more select conversation than the local wannabe DJ's

I have been trying to learn Morse since my teens  so giving it one more go.

[vtsteam]

That's great Joules! 

Your tries learning Morse code sounds like my many tries at learning touch typing over the years. Even Mavis Beacon flunked me. 

[Joules]

I have a cunning fall back plan.   The little keyer I use is a USB device, it can be linked to a laptop and Morse sent and decoded at speed using Fldigi....

Shuush, don't tell anyone.....

[kayzed1]

 

[vtsteam]

When in Quebec city I saw a big museum exhibition about the Titanic, complete with some reconstructions of rooms. Included was the radio room, which seemed to me quite small and scanty of equipment. At least compared to my imagined communications center for such a huge ship. There were the morse paddles on a table. I don't believe the room even had a porthole. If I remember correctly the two operators stayed until the water reached the radio room. It was a pretty sobering exhibit.

[vtsteam]

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[Joules]

That's a great picture Steve and real sobbering that the operators stayed on post till the batteries shorted out.   I learnt SOS as a cub scout when we were told the story of the Titanic, pretty much the start of my interest in Morse.   Seems even more relevant in these days of insecure digital communications and Morse's ability to be used in challenging conditions.

[vtsteam]

Joules, I learned SOS in the boy scouts, too, though I didn't last long in it!

re radio on the Titanic....this was a pretty interesting read-- just found:

http://jproc.ca/radiostor/titanic.html

[Joules]

So, it was generators not batteries that shorted out.   Yes, interesting read.

[awemawson]

From fairly recent footage it seems that the radio room is still amazingly intact though I doubt that any of the equipment would survive removal.

Very early days of maritime radio of course so I’m not surprised that little space was dedicated to it..

I learnt morse code in the school combined cadet force (CCF) but that’s a heck of a long time ago and it’s leaked away now!

[Joules]

Thanks kayzed1

[Joules]

Yeah Andrew, I couldn't work out the publicity stunt of trying to get the radio, surely building a reproduction would be far more useful and a hell of a lot cheaper.  They literally want to wreck, the wreck !!!

[vtsteam]

Let the wreck rest in peace.