[CW] MAC Key

Sat Jan 4 09:41:27 EST 2014

David, 
A few years ago I had a local machine shop make about 50 weights for me...out of stainless steel rod, and threaded. They looked nice and sold them all in a few weeks. I've been thinking I might do it again. I sold them for cost and postage but enjoyed doing it. Postage costs are the big thing today and looks like they are going to increase later this month (I think). 
73 
Tony W4FOA 
PS: I have one of the Mac Keys.....i offered it for sale a couple of years ago but everyone wanted this jewel for peanuts. It is still on my shelf in superb shape. Mine is the one with the gold decal as opposed to the riveted label. 

Watch your thoughts; they become words. 
Watch your words; they become actions. 
Watch your actions; they become habits. 
Watch your habits; they become character. 
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. 
Frank Outlaw 
----- Original Message -----
From: "D.J.J. Ring, Jr." <n1ea at arrl.net> 
To: "CW Reflector" <cw at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Saturday, January 4, 2014 8:38:32 AM 
Subject: Re: [CW] MAC Key 

I just son't know why someone who has one of these bugs doesn't make a few dozen of the weights and have himself a cottage industry. 

It's pizza money? 

Or at least beignets and coffee as you guys down in Red Stick (Baton Rouge) say. 

73 

DR 

On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 1:14 AM, Benny Owens < k5kvm5 at gmail.com > wrote: 

HI DAVID 

I BET TOM K4VIZ COULD BUILD YOU A BIG WEIGHT LIKE YOUR BUG NEEDS. 

73 
BENNY K5KV 

On Fri, Jan 3, 2014 at 10:37 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. < n1ea at arrl.net > wrote: 

<blockquote>

You did very nicely, Mark. The one that N4XY posted had a dot spring pre-tensioner designed to eliminate or reduce "sparky" dots. It loads down the U shaped dot spring so it doesn't TWANG which could give ratty, sparky dots. 

You obviously got the deal of the century with that key, Mark. I hope you enjoy it. 

I got mine when I was going to join a ship in 1980. The man had bought it from Ted McElroy - when he was in the US Navy. He was so happy that I was going to use it on ship - even if I was a merchant mariner and not a USN radioman. I wish I could have told him - I paid him cash for the key - $20 in 1980 so I never could tell him I used it during the SOS of ms PRINSENDAM / PJTA in October of that year - hopefully he recognized me from the CBS TV interview but I think he would have tried to call me if so, but I know and I think how proud he would have been when "his" MAC key was used in that event. 

I still need a weight for mine! Anyone sell reproductions of the McElroy weights? They're larger circumference than Vibroplex weights and the hole is a different size. The weights are a better design than Vibroplex because the large circumference, narrow thickness puts all the weight at one point on the vibrator and since the thickness isn't huge - like that large large weight Vibroplex now makes, you actually get some adjustment out of the weight. You put two of those LARGE Vibroplex weights on and you have ZERO adjustment! With the Mac weights you have a large range of speed adjustment because the weight doesn't get in the way of adjusting like it does with that BIG BIG weight. 

73 
David N1EA 

On Fri, Jan 3, 2014 at 9:57 PM, Mark Hogan < ml.hogan at gmail.com > wrote: 

<blockquote>
Its a great bug. Someone needs to buy this. I found mine in a hamfest years ago for 90 bucks. 
It's here 
http://btfom.blogspot.com/2010/03/1939-delux-no-label-just-decal.html?m=1 

Mark N5 OBC 

On Friday, January 3, 2014, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote: 

<blockquote>

I'm glad Tom French isn't on this list :-) That's a 1939 Deluxe McElroy key with (it looks like) original paddle and button and it has the dot pre-tensioner which is a nice feature. 

It has the Marbelite finish - very attractive key. 

Probably the best working key in my collection. 

I don't have both weights, I don't have the original (unbroken) paddle, mine I made out of plexlglass when on ship as the black paddle broke as did the trunnion pin which I replaced also. 

But (if it's any consolation) I have the brown storage box! 

I hope someone from here buys it in ten seconds! No relation to seller, it's just an awesome key. 

73 
DR 

On Fri, Jan 3, 2014 at 5:16 PM, Ed Tanton < n4xy at comcast.net > wrote: 

<blockquote>
There is a MAC Key FS on QRZ for $250-which is a lot less than I'd take for 
my lesser, similar one (regardless of whatever it's supposed value may be.) 

http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?419280-MAC-KEY-CW-KEY 

Ed Tanton 

website: < http://www.n4xy.com/ > http://www.n4xy.com 

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