[ARC5] [Milsurplus] 26003A Navy aviation key

Sun Jun 11 06:56:07 EDT 2023

I also have a CMI-26003A key. CMI is the code for Moulded Insulator Co. 
Bought it many years ago at a flea market. We also found one, same mfg, 
and an A model in the conning tower of the USS Ling, but it wasn’t 
hooked up to anything. I imagine those keys were nade by a bunch of 
manufacturers, including Bunnel, whose code was CJB. The key in the 
radio room of the sub was one with MG start and stop buttons for the TBL 
transmitter there, looked like a J-3X derivative. Non flameproof.

73, Howie WB2AWQ.

On 6/10/2023 5:47 PM, Roy Morgan wrote:
> The navy flameproof in use here is marked
> CMI-26003A
>
> This *may* be the key I have had since novice times - 1958.
>
> Roy Morgan
> K1LKY Western Mass
> K1LKY68 at gmail.com
>
>> On Jun 10, 2023, at 2:24 PM, MARK DORNEY via ARC5 
>> <arc5 at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> 
>> <image1.jpeg>
>>
>>  Three of my CW keys. Bottom two - USN “Flameproof” and USAAF 
>> “Flamproof”. Top is WW2  Luftwaffe “Flamproof.
>>
>> Mark D.
>> WW2RDO
>>
>> “In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of 
>> Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jun 10, 2023, at 2:03 PM, MARK DORNEY <mkdorney at aol.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Are you talking about the USAAF “fireproof” keys?  I have one of 
>>> each. The USAAF version is dated 1917.
>>>
>>> Mark D.
>>> WW2RDO
>>>
>>> “In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of 
>>> Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Jun 10, 2023, at 1:44 PM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>>
>>>>  The ME was a 1927 receiver-transmitter built by Westinghouse 
>>>> operating 3 to 4 MHz A1.  It pre-dates the 1931 Navy Type Number 
>>>> system, which assigns Class 43 to receiver-transmitters.  The 
>>>> earliest Navy Type number CAY-43000 was assigned to the MF-2, 08/19/32.
>>>>
>>>> I can find no information in SHIPS 242 about ME-1.  As expected, 
>>>> there was no navy type number assigned to ME or ME-1.
>>>>
>>>> I doubt that there was a key with type number assigned to the 
>>>> ME...too early for type numbers.  I doubt that the Bendix MT-11B 
>>>> type of key existed in 1927.
>>>>
>>>> From the NAVSHIPS 900,109 Navy Type Number book of September 1945, 
>>>> the followong information is provided on the four nt-26003* keys:
>>>>
>>>> CN-26003 GM     CN-G-115
>>>> KEY-TELEGRAPH
>>>> FLAME-PROOF
>>>> INSULATED FRAME.
>>>> 05/03/33
>>>>
>>>> -26003A     GO     RE 26F 111
>>>> HAND TELEGRAPH KEY:   (NAF #37153)
>>>> FLAME PROOF,
>>>> INSULATED FRAME.
>>>> KNOB OF LAMINATED MATERIAL SPEC. 17-P-5 TYPE-PBM.
>>>> 10/11/33
>>>>
>>>> CME-26003B VA-1     GRE 26J 1154A
>>>> KEY, TELEGRAPH
>>>> FLAME-PROOF
>>>> (SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPONENTS)
>>>> 01/06/38
>>>>
>>>> CME-26003C VA-2 & VB-1     GRE 26J 1156A
>>>> KEY, TELEGRAPH
>>>> FLAME-PROOF
>>>> SAME AS -26003B EXCEPT FOR LARGER TERMINAL TUBE FOR ARMORED CABLE
>>>> 10/04/39
>>>>
>>>> Note that nt-26003 is associated with transmitter GM, and that 
>>>> nt-26003A is associated with transmitter GO.
>>>>
>>>> nt-26003B is associated with visual signaling equipment VA-1, and 
>>>> that nt-26003C is associated with visual signaling equipment VA-2 
>>>> and VB-1.
>>>>
>>>> This key is my favorite military key.  I have owned five that were 
>>>> pulled from USN patrol aircraft being scrapped that had AN/ARC-25 
>>>> (AN/ART-13 with AN/ARR-15A), AN/ARC-38, AN/ARC-38A, or AN/ARC-94 HF 
>>>> radio sets installed.  ALL.were nt-26003A keys.  At least one had 
>>>> the two-minute key-down caution.
>>>>
>>>> Mike / KK5F
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Hubert Miller <kargo_cult at msn.com>
>>>> Sent: Jun 9, 2023 5:07 PM
>>>> To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>, 
>>>> milsurplus at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Subject: [Milsurplus] 26003A Navy aviation key
>>>>
>>>> I assume because of the caution text on the knob skirt, this key 
>>>> was part of a specific radio equipment. Which set was that ? I 
>>>> bought it at SeaPac, thinking it might be a good fit for the ME-1 
>>>> radio i have. Manual doesn't list the key, but it does say the 
>>>> finals are operating at their dissipation limits.
>>>> -Hue Miller
>>>>
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