[CW] Paddles and Keyboards

[Bruce Prior]

I recently had an extended conversation with a ham who is considering buying a Begali paddle. http://www.i2rtf.com/keys---paddles.html

I told him that I leave the original feet on all of my home keys, but I add a patch of 3M Dual Lock https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/dual-lock-reclosable-fasteners-us/ both to the middle of the paddle base and to my desk. With considerable force, the paddle can still be removed, but normally it stays in place semi-permanently. After our talk, he concluded that he wants to buy either a Signature Edition or a Magnetic Classic. He likes the idea of a magnetic return.

There was only one Begali paddle which I didn't like. That was the original version of the single-lever HST, which had too long a lever. Begali no longer sells it. That has been replaced with the HST Mark III, which is considerably better. I own a hybrid Leonessa, which is currently in dual-lever mode. An even fancier hybrid is the Sculpture Janus. I also own an Adventure Dual and an Adventure Mono for portable work. My absolute favorite paddle is the Sculpture Mono with its 14-carat gold contacts. The Sculpture Mono has an honored place in my home shack. I use it with very tight spacing and minimal return force.

Begali is a very small family business, and like all of us, Pietro is not getting any younger. I suggested that my friend buy a Begali paddle sooner rather than later. There are lots of mass-produced paddles which will be available decades from now. After Pietro becomes a silent key, his paddles will only increase in value. Somebody may try to continue his legacy, but it is unlikely that his artistic creativity and meticulous quality control will persist.

My friend observed that most people he contacts use keyboards rather than paddles. Is the era of keyer paddles coming to a close? Perhaps, but I thoroughly enjoy the feel of a quality paddle.

73,
Bruce Prior N7RR / VA7TO




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