[CW] 5 finger key?

[K0HB]

I knew a couple Navy Telemen (WW-II submariners still around when I was a 
young Sailor) who had custom made "two finger" keys.  Essentially two 
smaller than normal J-38-style handles on a common base wired in parallel. 
Keyed with first two fingers, not the thumb, and these guys were FAST.  They 
got them in China pre-WWII.

73, de Hans, K0HB


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From: "Jeffrey Herman" <jeffreyh at hawaii.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 3:37 PM
To: "CW Reflector" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: "Ham Radio History E-list" <ham-radio-history at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [CW] 5 finger key?

> Continuing to browse through my '65 edition
> of Hinks and Kinks I came across an odd one:
> Five metal strips to be used as keys (one
> per finger), mounted on a wood base, connected
> in parallel. It's suggested that the metal strip
> key for the thumb be used to make dashes, with
> the other four fingers tapping out dots.
>
> I could see using two strips -- one for the index
> finger and the other for the thumb -- sort of a
> "cuddie key", but five?
>
> Kind of a poor man's "speed key" I guess. For example,
> sending the Morse "4", ....-, you could begin
> with your little finger and end with your thumb.
>
> If there was an award given for the oddest key, this
> surely would be a winner!
>
> 73,
> Jeff KH6O
>
>
>
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