STATION W5FZ HOME PAGE 2008

This photo shows the JRC KY-3A morse key received from England March 1st, 2008. The background photo is of the MV Shenshi, a Japanese built 170,000 ton ore carrier ship (1977). This key came out of the ship's radio room once the ship went GMDSS. An excellent key with a great solid feel when sending morse.

The key in the above photo shown with the US Navy WW1 SubChaser 223 in the background. The key, "Auxillary Hand Key", was used on these SubChasers back then. The key Type is: SE68 250Volt 50Ampere 500cycles used with a spark wireless set. Large 5/8inch contacts. Made by the Machinery Division, Navy Yard, Boston.

This photo and the next show two views of a Marconi morse key number: 444 on the left sitting near the larger Marconi spark key from 1911 to 1916 year period for comparison. I think the number 444 key is from the year 1905 and later, used with Marconi 1.5KW Wireless Sets. The British Marconi company made keys that were usually on a wooden base. An example like this appears in a very early British Marconi catalog from 1905. The wooden base of the key was necessarily quite thick because it concealed a fixed 25uf condenser which was connected across the contacts, just like this key. The condenser has a round stamped impression with the letters B and I over each other, so it is BI or IB for a company mark. Using these became a common strategy to reduce sparking. The marking D21 appears on the bottom of the key base and the top side of the bottom wood cover. The rectangular piece of burlap material was removed from the bottom of the key's bottom wood cover. Both keys have the similar cutout area along the top and bottom side of the lever.

This photo shows the bottom cover on the key with the burlap type material removed to gain access to the four securing screws to remove the cover.

This next photo is with the bottom cover removed and shows the 25uf condenser and the D21 marking. The condenser leads both go to the wire terminals. A small brown paper bag came in the key base and the condenser inserts inside it. I put it all back the same way it arrived, less the burlap material. May put a green felt on the bottom or just some small non-skid feet.

This is a recently completed project using two British 8amp keys mounted on two L brackets of brass plate and feet added to create a paddle key, weight is approximately 1 pound 4 ounces so it sits well on the operating desk. This is one view, the next view shows the other side.

Reference Short Wave Stations

CHU Canada 3KW am 3.330MHz and 14.670MHz and 10KW am on 7.335MHz
WWV 2.5KW am on 2.5MHz and 20MHz, and 10KW am on 5, 10, and 15MHz

Links To Pages and Others That May Be of Interest