Notes on Best Straight Keys from Chris NW6V and N1EA

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

The PB213 is a fine key - and the price makes it a good value. However, I bought one and gave it away (literally) because I didn't care for that "soft" springiness - it did NOT work well for high-speed keying - above 20 WPM, it caused imprecision. The original Marconi design is better; I like my keys to provide precise mechanical feedback, like a BMW transmission - snick-snick... 

The best values and arguably the best keys for the money are currently being made in China. Gasp. 

Most of these keys borrow from the Marconi and Scandinavian design schools, with long arms and (thank God) Navy knobs. This  E-Bay listing shows one I bought. It is the fastest key I own. Faster than my Frattini, my Begali's, or any of the others. It is carved from solid hunks of SS so is heavy - 1.2KG, and stays put without argument. Yet, its short back-reach, behind the pivot of the bearings, makes the design compact. With the price in the low $140 range, these are a bargain. 

Telegraph Key Morse Key CW Key Ham Radio Key Manual For Morse Code Practices | eBay

I attached a picture of the Frattini, the Chinese key, and a J38 for size comparisons.

In my dream world, I will design and manufacture keys to my own demanding specifications right here in the USA... There is no key on the market that satisfies all my requirements. And try to keep the price down. Frattini's and Begali's are amazing - but so are the prices. :-) 

73 Chris NW6V

PS: The Begali spark and Blades are VERY nice keys and recommended.

Attached photo:

I agree with you Chris, NW6V, the only problem I had with G0NVT's keys were the springs, they were too soft and didn't push back fast enough.  I have an original PS-213A which G0NVT refurbished, and it's much better.  I have a PS-213A copy which G0NVT made for me, and it's second best, then there's the PB-213 with it's unique basket weave spring that he thought might be able to reproduce the spring of the original PS-213A.  All I can say is that spring design must be deceptively complex, it must have something to do with the temper of the metal used.  Don't misunderstand, they're all excellent keys, but the original nails it, I haven't used either the Chinese key you recommend or Alberto Frattini's PS-213A copy but based on his J-36 which I have, and the recommendations of many Italian radio officers who used the original PS-213 keys at Italian radiotelegraph stations, I'm sold on that being excellent.

I2RTF also makes this Sculpture Arrow straight key and like the Sculpture Swing cootie of the same price range, it took my breath away it was so good.
http://i2rtf.com/sculpture-arrow.html

Sculpture Swing cootie http://i2rtf.com/sculpture-swing.html I believe it's got some sort of cam device which gives feedback to the lever, it's a stiff lever but the cam seems to give it the feel of a hacksaw blade cootie.

Sculpture Swing owners are invited to comment and expand on my observation.  I have never seen a key like the Sculpture Swing - it's my dream key (I just wish it was out when I started buying various cootie keys, Kungsimport, SKCC cootie, G3HGE Twanger, Modified VibroKeyer with lollipop fingerpiece, Bunnell Double Speed Key. I would trade (with withdrawal pains) the whole bunch for a Swing (with cash to make up for my foolishness of not being able to see the future when I2RTF would make the ultimate keys.

Here's some excellent sideswiper sending by Simone IS0AFM  on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/ldswejASM1w

73
DR
N1EA