[Elecraft] Keys as jewelry

[Howard Hoyt]

KN1CBR asked:

>>in what way is a Begali (or equivalent)
>>superior to a much cheaper Bencher (or equivalent)?

Your subject line belies the true intent of your question, and I agree with you fit and finish are part of the equation.  We all choose where to spend our optional money, and balance form and function when we do.

After learning on a Vibroplex for a few years, my first set of keyer paddles was made from a piece of PCB material and a few brass screws.  It worked but was not aesthetically pleasing.  A TenTec magnetic key I purchased somewhat later worked and looked better and offered adjustability, but it's plastic levers gave a mushy feel.  A few years later I purchased (at the time, for what was a king's ransom) a Bencher BY-2 and have used it for over 20 years.  A few years ago I tried a Frattini Iambic, and I was blown away by it on many levels:

Function: the materials used and precision of the bearings in the Frattini give it an extremely precise and repeatable feel, to my hand much better than the BY-2, indeed the Frattini Iambic is the best paddle I have used.  It's balance of leverage vs. magnetically sprung mass is ideal to my way of sending and offers a higher degree of adjustability than even the Bencher.

Form: the Frattini is machined and finished like a piece of jewelery and is very aesthetically pleasing.  It's form belies a higher degree of custom machining and hand finishing than the Bencher, which you would expect for 4x as much.

So the bottom line becomes: If it delivers higher performance and the form is more appealing, is it 4x better?  Even if it is, do you have the expendable resources to purchase it?  After 44 years of CW and almost as many years of working earning money, I find purchasing the Frattini Iambic a particularly good value.  I expect I can use it until I am too feeble to, and then I or my estate can sell it for what I paid or more.

Before you conclude I am a rich fart who can just throw money around I would ask you to think about this: value is a funny concept, most everyone reading this list has spent 40x as much as the best Frattini or Begali on a car...and lost more than the value of either in the first 5 minutes driving it off the lot.  I guess you put your money where it is important to you.  I buy and drive used Chevrolets and send code with Frattini Iambic, and love every minute of it!

Cheers & 73,

Howie - WA4PSC