[CW] Military Straight Keys

Sun, 11 Apr 2004 15:58:16 -0300

I've been a keyer/paddle operator all these years, and only venture with a
SK when I encounter another hand key operator.  Perhaps for that reason, I
confess that my wrist gets tired after a while with most of the straight
keys I've tried.  However, like Bruce, I also find that the CMI-26003A is,
in spite of its awkward shape, a dream to operate.  To my surprise (as I
bought one for collection--not operational--purposes) equally marvelous is
its Army Signal Corps flame proof counterpart--the  J-6-A--which has an even
weirder shape and an even taller and bigger mushroon-shaped knob.

73 Pedro KP3X..

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Wright" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 1:50 PM
Subject: [CW] Re: Puerto Rico Straight Key Party

> With reference to David Ring's comments on a recent QSO, he wrote:
>
> "I have been looking for someone who can send 25 wpm plus - I forget but
> someone doubted that it can be done, but I know it can be done - I just
> can't do it any more - but this fellow can and did - and he is 73 years
> old."
>
> Nice!
>
> Actually, it is not too difficult to achieve speeds in the 30 wpm range
for
> short periods of time if one has a suitable handkey, its adjustments with
> regard to contact spacing and spring compression force are attended to and
> its position atop the operating desk allows for a comfortable placement of
> one's wrist and forearm...And, of course, all of these factors are
> iimportant in forming code characters with consistent weighting, spacing
and
> rythym.
>
> Although I am a bug user, and never having learned keyer/paddle mechanics,
> the fun of operating a handkey at higher speeds is quite special.
>
> For many years, my favorite handkey had been my original novice key, an E
F
> Johnson Speed-X, the one with the rectangular base and skirted knob...It
has
> allowed me to send consistently well at speeds in the 27 or so -to- 30 wpm
> range for several QSO's having multiple exchanges in an operating
> session...Others, including a J-37, J-38 and several Bunnell steel lever
> keys--while nice to use at lower speeds--haven't proved suitable to me for
> such sessions.
>
> BUT, the acquisition of a Navy flameproof key, model CMI-26003A, has
proven
> even better in this speed range with respect to its smooth action and
> positive feedback...Again, one must set contact spacing and spring
> compression force correctly, the former with very close spacing and the
> latter with just enough resistance to allow definite, positive return of
the
> lever...This key has been a dream to use, its mechanical feedback is so
> doggone good!...This had really surprised me insofar as I had real doubts
> about it when I first purchased it because of its tall mushroom-shaped
knob
> and its over-all geometry.
>
> Just my two-cents worth,
>
> Tnx es 73,
>
> Bruce
> WC5CW
>
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