[CW] Re: Best Paddle

[FrankW8OK@aol.com]

Joe Hills, W8FYO, the inventor of the FYO Paddle was a personal friend of 
mine and I helped in the development of his paddles. He lived about 2 miles 
from me here in Dayton, OH.  I have the prototype of the original iambic 
paddle and I use it as my primary key. I even had a guy asked me will it to 
him when I die. I declined. Hi!

Joe sold his patent to HAL Communications who built a few. They were terrible 
from a construction standpoint. Joe was a meticulous machinist. The paddles 
originally sold for $24.95 and were shipped in a wooden box. Class!

HAL gave up on the patent and Bob Locher started making them and called them 
Benchers. 

I use a Bencher in my car because I tend to really pound on it while driving 
and it has done well for me. I also own a Gold Bencher which was given to me 
by a group of hams for whom I arranged 8 different DXpeditions. 

Bill Norton, who now has W8FYO, is a collector of keys especially FYO's. I 
helped him get the story of Joe put together.  

By the way, I have some small parts for FYO keys if anyone needs any.

161 (73 and 88 put together)

Frank.
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"No matter what fate or fortune has in store for me, I shall never regret the 
day I donned the apron of my craft and became a citizen of the Empire of 
Type"
- Author Unknown.

Frank J. Schwab, W8OK   "CW is an art ... be an artist!"  
CQ DX Hall of Fame # 33 - Brass Pounder's League - A-1 Operator's Club
Elecraft K2 #2896


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