Single Lever Paddle Key

This single lever morse key was made following the mechanical design of the single-lever KENT key.

However,  unlike the steel base of the KENT key, this is built on a base of black textured slate measuring 92mm by 115mm and 23mm thick, making for a heavy solid and attractive foundation for the brass mechanical parts built upon it.

Another unique feature is the smoky agate finger plate which further adds to the overall attractiveness of this handcrafted key.

The following slides show some of the various stages of the construction of the key and its many parts.

For this key, I decided to make my own label with my OP name and callsign as I hope to make more as and when I have the time. A considerable amount of time went into making this key, so the numbers I am able to make will be few.

The first main arm had to be remade as the first was too short and the tension arms fowled on the bearing block. Also after completing the key and testing it, I realized that I needed the two adjustment screws and lock nuts on both contact arms which are there to take out any slack movement between the main arm and contact arms.

If you study the pictures below, you may be able to notice these changes.

Like the construction of my other keys, the bearings are salvaged parts from the reader arms of small computer hard drives.

The silvered contacts were taken from inside some micro-switches, I have an abundance of and no other use for at present.

In using this key, it proved to be very positive and precise, staying firmly in place on the desk without any tendency to move about.

My first five contacts using this key were:-

PD0HRS, 2E0HBV, OZ1AAR, DL6FAX, and EV6Z, all were made on 20 Meters.

This is a video of the testing of the key and a look around it.

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