[CW] May 2000 issue of the Old Timers Bulletin, article about spark keys

[Sherrill Watkins]

Gentlemen: I discovered an interesting article in the May 2000 Issue of the
Old Timers Bulletin (OTB) published by the Antique Wireless Association. On
page 52 is an article about the Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company. They
were one of many companies that make straight keys to key a spark
transmitter. Their keys had contacts about 3/8" diameter with cooling fins!!
Their standard version was designed to key 40(!) amperes and their heavy duty
model would key 60(!!) amperes. Amazing! All their keys had skirts on the
knobs and were not protected by a cover. The article makes for interesting
reading. The company went out of business sometime after about 1923 when
spark was ruled illegal to use in the U.S. (Spark was still used by many
foreign ships long after it was prohibited to be used in the USA.) Some old
timers told me years ago that it was used up through WW2 by some foreign flag
merchant ships!- 73- Sherrill W. k4own.  
_______________________________________________
CW mailing list
CW at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw