[Elecraft] OT - Straight Key for your Elecraft

[Ken Kopp]

Cookie, others ...

I've been a CW op since 1951 and at one time even
earned a living as a shipboard RO.  I recently sold
a straight key collection of almost 200 keys on eBay.
Some brought astounding prices ... one $1501 !

The Bencher RJ-1/2 is ... in my opinion ... indeed an 
excellent  key and I have one beside my K3.  The
flameproof "Navy key" is also an fine unit.  The J-38
family of keys are "good", but nothing special.  My 
pick of all however, is a brass key made in the '30's 
by Signal Electric, and I kept mine.  I mounted it of 
a piece of marble obtained as a tombstone sample. (:-)) 

If just learning to send code -most- important advice I can
offer is to -never- let the forearm touch the able.  The thumb
and next two fingers rest on the key's knob and the elbow
on the table.  The wrist becomes a flexible spring.  NEVER
rest the arm on the table and use the wrist for the up-and-
down motion.  You -will- develop the infamous "glass fist".

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
       ElecraftCovers at rfwave.net