Hi-Mound BK-100 "Bug" June 17, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : keys , 2commentsI’ve recently acquired a Hi-Mound BK-100, "new" version (the trunion has ball bearings). It needs some serious adjusting before it can be used, but in general it seems to be in fine shape. The plastic cover has two cracks in it – one on each corner at the "business end" where the paddle lever is. It looks to me as though the plastic cover fit a bit too tightly, which is why there are cracks.
There were two versions of the BK-100 made by High-Mound, as far as I know; the early version did not have ball bearings in the trunion, and the later version does. This one is a later, or "new" version. I’d read in the Straight Key Century Club’s (SKCC) mail list that, at least for Vibroplex bugs no lubricant ought to be used in the ball bearings, but this bug has grease in it. I need to find out if the Hi-Mound bugs should be greased or not.
I also would like to get my hands on a copy of any manual or user guide that the bug came with, if it did. In the mean time, once I get it adjusted (and degreased, if need be), that I’ll get some practice with it before getting on the air.
CJB 26003A Flame Proof Key, from Australia May 4, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : keys , 4commentsRecently, I bid on a key to add to my fledgling collection of Morse keys, and hopefully would be a good key to use on the air. This key was a CJB 26003A “Flame Proof” key, and is a key that seems to be one of the most highly praised keys by members of the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC). The description for this key on eBay included “Used on Neptune maritime aircraft and other RAAF aircraft of the time such as Lincolns etc. Label dated on box 1984 where they may have been reidentified when the aircraft was decomissioned.”
I won the bidding for the key! I’d resigned myself to not being able to afford a good key, and in fact I’ve bid on, and lost, quite a few straight keys and bugs recently on eBay. I didn’t really expect to win the bidding, but I think that I got lucky.
I received the key a couple of days ago, and I am very, very pleased. This key is in mint condition, still has the little plastic cover over the binding posts, and in fact it came in the original box. It’s apparent that this key is “NOS”, or New Old Stock, and had never been issued. Taking off the paper wrapper with customs stickers and Australian postage, seeing this original press-board box with manufacturers markings and military stock label was quite a treat.
Opening the box, you find a solid looking, black crinkly-finished key, with a tall “Navy” type knob. The mechanism and contacts are sealed inside the metal housing, preventing any potential sparks from igniting any flammable fumes – hence the “Flame Proof” moniker.
This key has been manufactured by several different companies for the US and Allied military, primarily the Navy, going back (I think) to WWII. You can tell who the manufacturer was by the three-letter prefix of this key’s model number. This one, for example, is CJB 26003A, with CJB being the “code” for J. H. Bunnell & Company. Bunnell produced telegraph keys beginning in 1878, and produced keys and other electronic equipment to the military from the time of the Spanish American War through 1988 at least. During the last 30 years of that the Flame Proof was manufactured, ending in 1988, Bunnell was the sole manufacturer.
Manufacturer codes:
- CJB- J. H. Bunnell
- CTE- Telephonics
- CMK- McElroy
- CMI- Moulded Insulator Co.
After making some adjustments and playing around with the key for a few minutes, I have to say that the action on this key is the best that I’ve been able to use so far.
Strange CW keys from OH6CD April 12, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : humor, keys , add a commentEver want to get on the air with CW, but couldn’t find your key? OH6CD solves this problem with some inventive, and strange, solutions. He improvises keys using everything from a toaster to a trailer hitch.
Visit his “Strange CW Keys” page at http://tinyurl.com/3wf725.
Here’s a video of his bicycle pump hey:
How to operate a straight key April 12, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : keys, operating , add a commentVideo from GHD – “”How To Operate a Straight Key”. This is an instructional video showing how to properly set up and use (Japanese style) a straight key. The video concludes with demos of a bug, and a “side-swiper” or “cootie” key..
Japanese language, but with English sub-titles. Nicely done.
NT9K Homebrew Amplidan Key April 10, 2008
Posted by N9IK in : keys , add a commentFollowing a link to the home page for Bill, NT9K, I was delighted to see some photos of his homebrew “Amplidan” key.
As you can see from the photo above (I hope you don’t mind my using it Bill), it is made of beautifully finished wood, with polished chrome and aluminum fittings. Inspirational!
Since I can’t really afford to buy any of the keys that I would like to own, homebrewing “copies” is an excellent idea. Now all I need are the proper tools to do a proper job…
Signal Electric – Fundamentals of Wireless Telegraphy August 27, 2007
Posted by N9IK in : keys , add a commentI purchased my Signal Electric R-68 Wireless Practice Set back in 1994 or 1995 at an estate sale. It still had the top of the original box, and the booklet that came with the key. Following are scanned images of the booklet. Clicking on each image ought to take you to a larger version, but be aware that some of those larger images are more than 2 megabyts, and could be pretty slow to display if you are using a dial-up internet connection.
To see the entire booklet, see this page.
Flea-market morse key August 10, 2007
Posted by N9IK in : keys , add a commentA while back, last summer I think, my xyl (my wife) found an old straight key at a flea market. Since I was not active with ham radio at the time, the key got put into the box with my other keys and some other parts of my station. Then I forgot about it.
A few days ago I started getting some of those things out again, and in particular I was looking for my Nye Viking Master Key and my HeathKit code practice oscillator. I was surprised to find this dirty, old key, and I couldn’t remember right away where it came from. As you can see from the pictures, it is quite dirty, and looks like it will take some elbow grease to restore, but before I do that, I’d like to know if it’s worth the trouble. It looks like it might be, but I have no idea what kind of key this is. If you recognize this key and can tell me anything about it, leave a comment!
