Ah the ole Dow key relay. One f my first purchases as a novice around 1968. Had continuity issues. I finally decide to risk my $22 investment and pried open the crimps on the solenoid and found the potting resin was solidified at an angle so the pressure on the contacts was marginal. Probably a one in a thousand of that kind of defect. 

Anyway thanks for dredging up some ancient memories. 

73 wa2nfn
Bill

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On Sat, Apr 6, 2024 at 8:16 PM D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea@arrl.net> wrote:
All bugs came in left and right hand versions. They usually cost a small amount more and finding used left handed versions can often be impossible if they're no longer in production. Some like the Dow Key Universal semiautomatic key could be rotated to change into a left or right handed key.

A good Internet page on Canadian Paul Dow's beautiful seminar keys. 


Paul Dow started making keys in the basement of his Winnipeg Canada around 1943. He made speed keys up until around 1957 when the business was moved to Minnesota. After this the company name was changed to Dow-Key Microwave, specializing in switches and relays.

Many amateur radio operators who had separate receivers and transmitters used Dow Key coaxial relays with auxiliary contacts to switch the receiver into standby during transmission.

73

DR

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