[CW] What is the best telegraph key??

[Buck]

Is this like the single electronic keyer with contacts on both sides?
Obviously there are no electronics so the dits and dahs are hand controlled.

I think I get the picture but I would love to see a picture. 
Buck
N4PGW


-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Buckle [mailto:geneb at deltasoft.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 6:11 PM
To: Buck
Cc: cw at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [CW] What is the best telegraph key??

> I was suggesting using these as strait keys, not the keyer.  My rig has a
> keyer built in.  When I turn off the internal keyer, I have a strait key
> using the right paddle. :)
>
Ahh, gotcha.

> That's what I was suggesting.  Is the Cootie a mechanical bug?  That would
> work too.  Just don't hit the dits side. :)
>

A Cootie key is kind of paddle key.  It's also known as a side-swiper.
It's electrically the same as a straight key, but you make side to side
motions.  For instance, if I was going to send "Y", I'd move the lever
left-right-left-right  The first and last two motions would be held long
enough for the "dah" and the 2nd motion would be held a shorter period for
a "dit".  It's actually a really cool key to use.  I'm going to fabricate
one soon using a cut down hacksaw blade like they did in the "olden days"
hi hi. :)

g.