My £2.00 Morse key, rescued from scrap! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

David G4EBT · 19th Apr 2010, 9:50 am

At a radio rally I saw some bits of what had once been a Morse key, in a cardboard box. Apparently the bits had been removed from a key which had been damaged, with a view to mounting them on a base, but the seller had never got round to it.

The bits looked familiar – particularly the knob, which suggested that it had once been a NATO Admiralty key (based on the designs of the Swedish pump key of Lennart Pettersson and the Marconi PS No 213A). However, it has no data plate so I can't be sure of that, and it will remain a mystery as to whether it ever saw active service on a ship, or even ashore.

I asked how much - the seller said 'make me a silly offer' so I offered £2.00, and the deal was done! I've now have refurbished the bits and mounted them on a wooden base (made from one of several scrap iroko stair treads that I'd fished out of a skip).

I'd intended to make a metal cover as the bits of the key had originally been nickel plated, some of which had peeled off, and it looked unnatrractive. However, instead, I set about grinding and filing the plating off the bits to reveal the brass, which I polished, and thought might look nice on a wooden base.

Below are pics of the bits cleaned up ready for assembly, then mounted on the wooden base. For comparison, a pic of a NATO Marconi key is shown. They fetch silly prices – sometimes £100 or more, so I think my £2.00 key is quite a bargain!

David,
G4EBT

HamishBoxer · 19th Apr 2010, 10:07 am

Looks superb.

David GM8JET

Pamphonica · 23rd Apr 2010, 3:14 pm

A very nice job indeed - what an elegant key. Much more attractive un-housed!
regards

armitage · 23rd Apr 2010, 11:19 pm

well done!

AndrewH · 6th May 2010, 7:07 pm

Very nice!

19th Apr 2010, 9:50 am	#1
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	My £2.00 Morse key, rescued from scrap! At a radio rally I saw some bits of what had once been a Morse key, in a cardboard box. Apparently the bits had been removed from a key which had been damaged, with a view to mounting them on a base, but the seller had never got round to it. The bits looked familiar – particularly the knob, which suggested that it had once been a NATO Admiralty key (based on the designs of the Swedish pump key of Lennart Pettersson and the Marconi PS No 213A). However, it has no data plate so I can't be sure of that, and it will remain a mystery as to whether it ever saw active service on a ship, or even ashore. I asked how much - the seller said 'make me a silly offer' so I offered £2.00, and the deal was done! I've now have refurbished the bits and mounted them on a wooden base (made from one of several scrap iroko stair treads that I'd fished out of a skip). I'd intended to make a metal cover as the bits of the key had originally been nickel plated, some of which had peeled off, and it looked unnatrractive. However, instead, I set about grinding and filing the plating off the bits to reveal the brass, which I polished, and thought might look nice on a wooden base. Below are pics of the bits cleaned up ready for assembly, then mounted on the wooden base. For comparison, a pic of a NATO Marconi key is shown. They fetch silly prices – sometimes £100 or more, so I think my £2.00 key is quite a bargain! David, G4EBT Attached Thumbnails

19th Apr 2010, 10:07 am	#2
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: My £2.00 Morse key, rescued from scrap! Looks superb. David GM8JET

23rd Apr 2010, 3:14 pm	#3
Pamphonica Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Water, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,877	Re: My £2.00 Morse key, rescued from scrap! A very nice job indeed - what an elegant key. Much more attractive un-housed! regards __________________ Jeremy, G8MLK, BVWTVM Friend, VMARS, BVWS Secretary. www.pamphonic.co.uk www.bttt.org.uk

23rd Apr 2010, 11:19 pm	#4
armitage Triode Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lancashire, UK. Posts: 22	Re: My £2.00 Morse key, rescued from scrap! well done!

6th May 2010, 7:07 pm	#5
AndrewH Diode Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Solihull Posts: 6	Re: My £2.00 Morse key, rescued from scrap! Very nice!