Author Topic: My Morse keys (Read 17490 times)

johnuk6 · « **on:** June 22, 2010, 12:09:50 PM »

Here is a some of my Morse keys hope you like them.

andreas · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2010, 12:55:48 PM »

Well done John!!!!!!....thanks for sharing

Best regards
Andreas

Brass_Machine · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2010, 01:19:00 PM »

Those are mighty fine looking!

Eric

spuddevans · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2010, 02:43:17 PM »

B-E-utiful !!!!!!!!!!!

Tim

cidrontmg · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2010, 11:12:57 PM »

Lovely!

Do I see ball bearings in the first key?
What did you use for the contact points?

HS93 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2010, 12:20:54 AM »

they make me want to play with a key again,( then I wake up) realy nice what do you use as a keyer genarator.

Peter

G0PAH

Dean W · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2010, 01:03:17 AM »

Stunning work!

johnuk6 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2010, 04:40:13 AM »

Thanks for all your comments I really appreciate them, to answer some of your questions: All the keys use ball race bearings, the second key is based on a Swedish key I have another one about 90% finished but I’m not going to use bearings on it I will make trunnions like the original key used. All the contacts are brass but I silver plate them. The bottom key is a dual paddle that I used magnets instead of springs, this was the first time I used magnets and they worked really well.
Pete I’m not sure what you mean by keyer generator if you mean what I use to test the keys with I plug them into my Yaesu 857.

HS93 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2010, 06:53:55 AM »

is this one off yours ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Handmade-Morse-Key-/320551539401?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Collectables_RadioTelevision_Telephony_SM&hash=item4aa25c52c9

Peter

johnuk6 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2010, 08:12:58 AM »

Yes it is Peter it’s the one in the first picture, the money I make goes on more brass and tools, it’s a self funding hobby.

lordedmond · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2010, 09:25:17 AM »

like the side swiper used to be able to do about 45 words per min on one of those on the HF bands

used to be G4IJX but station is now defunct

for the old timers I ran a mark 3 on top band

well it was 3k on all bands

HS93 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2010, 09:46:05 AM »

Makes me want to play morse again

peter

G0PAH

BobWarfield · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2010, 02:05:48 PM »

I agree. Miss my old keys, but they were never as gorgeous as these!

Best,

BW

MrFluffy · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2010, 07:12:29 PM »

Beautiful, especially like the paddle key. Straight keys always gave me rsi so I saw them as instruments of torture

BobWarfield · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2010, 09:57:10 PM »

Quote from: HS93 on June 23, 2010, 06:53:55 AM

is this one off yours ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Handmade-Morse-Key-/320551539401?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Collectables_RadioTelevision_Telephony_SM&hash=item4aa25c52c9

Peter

That key should fetch more. I put a link on my site, maybe it'll get some attention.

Have you ever made a "bug"? Don't know if you called them that in the UK. They're obsolete (I suppose all keys are in some sense). They vibrated the dots mechanically, and you did the dashes by hand. Would be cool just for the extra mechanical activity.

Cheers,

BW

johnuk6 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2010, 12:37:46 PM »

No Bob I’ve not made one, there’s only one other key maker I know that has made them here in the UK and he’s just finished his third, there’s a few that make them in the states. Not sure if I want to make one really, I bought some drawings from a guy in the states for a sounder, when I got time I will have a go at making it but all the measurements are in imperial and I prefer metric so I got to re-draw then first.
Nothing against imperial I was brought up on them but been using metric for years now I find it much easier to work with, you yanks will have to let go and join the rest of the world.

swhite · « **Reply #16 on:** June 24, 2010, 02:28:41 PM »

Pure art!

How much time do you invest in making these?

johnuk6 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2010, 04:15:05 PM »

On average probable about 4 or 5 days depends on the key and how much time I have spare.

ieezitin · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2010, 08:54:45 PM »

John.

Absolutely superb pieces. Nice metal work and wood plinths.

Although I live here in the states ( emigrated 20 years ago from the UK ) my grandfather still is a radio ham he is in his 90ies. His call sign begins with G3~~~~ don’t know the rest, he would die for such works of art.

I remember sitting at the dinner table as a kid and I would tap with my fork little messages to him while my grandma would be nattering to who ever over tea.

He was in the air force during the war, and was a spotter for where the ordinance was landing, tapping away in real time giving reports back home where the information was needed.

Thanks for showing us your work.

Anthony.

rokket · « **Reply #19 on:** July 16, 2010, 08:24:22 AM »

Gorgeous! What a delightful idea, and so well done.

It would be cool to sell these to amateur "hams" - wow!

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Author Topic: My Morse keys (Read 17490 times)

lordedmond

MrFluffy