[Elecraft] CW Key suggestions ?

[Don Wilhelm]

OK, so we are swapping old stories.  I walked down the streets of 
Cleveland, Ohio from Case Institute of Technology to the surplus store 
somewhere near the 200 block of Carnegie Ave. to the local surplus 
emporium.  I was a student at Case Institute of Technology at the time.  
I bought a straight key (J-38) and an ARC-5 receiver and transmitter.  
With that gear plus a few mods, I was able to string a wire out of my 
dorm room window and make some contacts. Yes, that was back in the 1959 
time frame when a J38 key could be purchased for $1.50 and the ARC-5 
transmitters and receivers were selling for $5 to $10.

I eventually acquired a BC-348 receiver that gave me all ham band 
coverage plusa lot of extra frequencies. When I moved into the 
fraternity house, they were much more receptive to me putting up 
antennas.  The antenna there was a Windom ( compare to other OCF 
antennas) that suffered from many "RF-in-the-shack" problems.  I recall 
completing my 4-65A transmitter during that time frame - CW was great, 
but I did a lot with grid modulation because I could not afford the big 
modulation transformers required for plate modulation.

73,,
Don W3FPR

On 6/25/2012 7:26 PM, Joe K2UF wrote:
> My J-38 also came from Chicago in 1954 (still have it!!).  Allied radio.  I
> would order parts from them about 2 to 3 times a month.  Usually less than
> $5.00 per order.  Paper boys did not make much back then.
>
> 73  Joe K2UF
>
>