You have confused me about the sideways grip. No photo on your post,
would like to see it.
    I will point out that the strongest movement of the hand is in the
direction of wrist moving the fingers toward the forearm, regardless of
the position of the hand. The sideways motion is relatively weak. It is
NOT the motion used for a bug or sideswiper, those use the same motion
as a straight key but with the key lever turned 90 degrees so that the
whole hand is also turned. The motion used to work those keys is the
same as is used for a straight key. In effect, a sideswiper is a
straight key with a second set of contacts.
     I am familiar with the Caitlin grip, as descirbed in old books on
the telegraph. It seems to me to the same grip as described in much
later books on telegraphy, for instance, the U.S. Army manuals. I.e.
index finger pressing the knob with thumb and ring finger at the sides
of the knob. Is this a wrong understanding? Show me a picture please.
     Also, the European grip, using keys with large knobs or handles and
the elbow in mid air, seems to me to use essentially the same motion as
the grip for the American style knob and the elbow on the table as a
fulcrum.

On 1/20/2024 1:51 PM, Chris R. NW6V 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

--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998
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