[CW] W6BNB Bob Shrader's method of using a straight key.

Sat Jan 20 21:06:43 EST 2024

Early texts describe "The Catlin Grip" as "like holding a pen" and
illustrate the hand in - ta-da - the position of function. See the
photo attached. But sometime in the beginning of the 20th century, the
pictures were redrawn, showing the wrist flat. And that became the
defacto default. The picture shows the Catlin Grip which is what was
used by Chris NW6V to win 1st place in straight key sending contests.

Many radiotelegraphers - myself included - send with a straight key
and never get glass arm because I evolved away from a flat wrist
posture.  I never use my wrist to send with.  I use my arm my wrist is
totally limp.  Instructors in Morse when I learned would come around
to see if your wrist was tense, if it was your posture was incorrect
as you were using your wrist, and not your arm which is the correct
posture.
With sending with both a semiautomatic key (bug) and a sideswiper, I
use the lower arm, NOT the wrist to send. The wrist is totally limp.
73
DR
N1EA

On Sat, Jan 20, 2024 at 8:49 PM Walter - K5EST <walter.k5est at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I love this discussion, however, a much larger audience would benefit this change away from the straight key instructions of yesteryear's teachings.
>
> The farther away from the straight key "glass arm" factory to enjoyable CW QSOs is important.
>
> 73,
>
> Walter, K5EST ⚓
> ZUT ... CW Forever!
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 20, 2024, 3:51 PM Chris R. NW6V <chrisrut7 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Richard.
>>
>> You asserted: "The design of a straight key is, as everyone knows, such that the hand is in an unnatural position so its inherently fatiguing."
>>
>> Sorry to disagree, but this is false.
>>
>> The clue to the correct answer is contained in your own statement. "the hand is in an unnatural position" (true) - but NOT because the straight key forces it, but because that's what people were TAUGHT to do.
>>
>> Indeed, the common "flat wrist" technique puts the hand in what is known as an "awkward posture" - which encourages "flexion," an ergonomic no-no. But the simple expedient of turning the wrist more upright, to a position like holding a pencil or pen, places the wrist in the very NON awkward "position of function." I document all this extensively in my book.
>>
>> Ironically (further info, not in the book), the "position of function grip" seems to have originated (no later than) with George Catlin - a contemporary and associate of Horace Martin, inventor of the Vibroplex. Early texts describe "The Catlin Grip" as "like holding a pen" and illustrate the hand in - ta-da - the position of function. See the photo attached. This is a good approximation of my grip.
>>
>> But sometime in the beginning of the 20th century, the pictures were redrawn, showing the wrist flat. And that became the defacto default.
>>
>> 73 es HNY Chris NW6V
>> .
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 20, 2024 at 7:33 AM Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>     Not a way I ever send. I think the "grip" is very individual. I use
>>> a pretty much conservative grip, most of the force coming from my first
>>> finger. My first finger resting near the edge of the knob near the
>>> center, thumb resting on the left edge of the knob but not under the
>>> knob, ring finger on the right side of the knob and other fingers curled
>>> out of way. I vary whether the first or ring finger does the work as I
>>> get fatigued. I have always had a good fist on a conventional key. Max
>>> speed now (I'm 83) is maybe 22 WPM but in the past I could do over 25 WPM.
>>>   hat is
>>> the reason for the origin of the side swiper and bug. If you rest your
>>> hand on a table it will naturally relax with the palm outward and the
>>> thumb up. If you now point it ahead, as in using a straight key, you
>>> will feel the stretch across the forearm. Much the same thing happens
>>> when you type and is why both typing and using a straight key can cause
>>> carpal tunnel inflammation. There have been sideways typewriter
>>> keyboards made in the past.
>>>     As a result of the inherently fatiguing arrangement of a straight
>>> key there probably as many grips for it as ways to leave a lover.
>>>
>>> On 1/19/2024 8:49 AM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
>>> > Hello Chris, NW6V,
>>> >
>>> > I want to ask you what you think about W6BNB's unique method of using a
>>> > straight key by flipping the the middle, ring, and pinky fingers downward.
>>> >
>>> > Have you ever tried that?
>>> >
>>> > Has anyone on the CW Reflector tried it?
>>> >
>>> > See attached.
>>> >
>>> > 73
>>> >
>>> > DR
>>> > N1EA
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Richard Knoppow
>>> Los Angeles
>>> WB6KBL
>>> SKCC 19998
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