KK4DW6B

	Page 6B PADDLES (Continued)
Fig 13	Nye Viking SSK-001 Master Squeeze Key
Fig 14	W9WBL V2L
Fig 15	Schurr "Einbau Wabbler"
Fig 16	Begali "Graciella"
Fig 17	Jones PK-200 Twin lever paddle
Fig 18	G4ZPY VHS paddle
Fig 19	Bencher 'Hex' paddle
Fig 20	Begali Simplex Mono paddle
Fig 21	WB9LPU Ball - pivot Iambic paddle
Fig 22	W5JH Black Widow Iambic Paddle
Fig 23	G4ZPY Standard Single Lever Paddle
Fig 24	W9WBL VSL SINGLE LEVER PADDLE
HOME	DIRECTORY

Fig. 13: Nye SSK-001 Master

Available

Shown without its dust cover, this popular key weighs abt 1 lb 12-1/4 oz. The base is roughly 3" x 4".

If you have the Nye Master straight key, you might notice the same sort of spring steel contacts used on the dot and dash sides as used on the Master straight key. The contacts are like jack contacts.

Touted as a good mobile paddle, I cannot vouch firsthand for it. It has the ability to push in or pull out the paddles for various desired "feel".

Fig 14 W9WBL V2L paddle

SOLD

This particular scarce paddle was made in August 1996 by Stan Hails Jr., W9WBL . It is SN 89. I purchased it from its original owner, Eric Rosenberg, W3DQ recently. Stan went on to make the V22 and then ceased to make anything more I know of. He is also known to have limited issues of several earlier items including a dual straight and paddle on common base.

V2L's sold originally in the 90's for $99 + $6 S&H. . It weighs 2 lb - 12 oz. It has a 2-1/2" x 3-1/8" footprint and is 3-1/4"high. It and its successor, the V22 paved the way for the Begali Graciella (See #16 below)

Fig. 15: Schurr "Einbau Wabbler"

SOLD

This was my Einbau Wabbler. It was made to be mounted by the purchaser however they so desired - so no base. I selected a 3" x 6" x 1/4" solid polished brass base for mine. It is rubber shock mounted. There is no slip.

The gap adjustment tool was left in place for illustration purposes. No need to remove it.It is a smooth, excellent paddle. I think they stopped making the smaller paddles because people realized it was foolish to pay the price of a Profi2 when the smaller, cheaper paddles were damned hard to tell apart in operation.

Fig 16 Begali "Graciella"

SOLD

The reigning "Queen" of paddles, SN 004. This paddle got its original start when the WBL V2L and V22 came out and advantages of a vertically mounted design were being talked up. It is in no way a copy of Stan's design. I find it has a delicate touch that is almost as if it was capacitive.

I have said before you send better CW with practice rather than buying a more expensive paddle.

It wasn't cheap! I had $559 in this critter direct from Piero. It weighs an impressive 3 lb 8-5/8 oz. You can see more views HERE.

Fig. 17: Jones PK-200 G

Available

This is a very solid and well made gold plated paddle with each of the two levers supported top and bottom with precision rotary ball race bearings. It would be nice to know just how many gold PK-200 G 's were ever made. Palomar Engineers imported these keys from England. I think 'PK' stood for 'Palomar Key'. This one is SN 000347.

The red based PK-200 was their original. It was followed by the all brass PK-200B which became their biggest seller in the U.S.A. PK-200's were $170, the PK-200B's sold originally for $190. A gold plated PK-200G sold for $350. They also made a single lever paddle, the PK-203 and it was all brass.

HERE is an actual magazine AD. If you
will run your cursor over the lower right corner, a little icon will appear. Click on it and the image expands. Then you can read it easily.

This is a heavy rascal, weighing right at 3 lb 9-1/8 Oz. The base measures 3''x 4-1/8". Connections are to three small solder lugs underneath. Paddle spacing is adjusted by twisting of the oval post at the rear and then readjusting the contact spacing. The tension is handled by the two screws in the sides of the housing which actually are hollow, and contain tiny springs within reminiscent of Begali contacts in my Signature paddle. f you ever take one of these apart, be aware these will shoot the springs and the metal pin out when they are released. The red plastic grips can be also raised or lowered to suit your preferences.

Fig 18: G4ZPY VHS

SOLD

The label on the bottom of this paddle reads:

"G4ZPY PADDLE KEYS INTERNATIONAL
BURSCOUGH, ENGLAND

I cannot find any serial number on it. The maker of this key refers to himself as the World's leading Morse Key Maker

Gordon Montague Crowhurst
41 Mill Dam Lane
Burscough
Ormskirk
Lancashire L40 7TG
Tel: 01704 894299

This paddle key weigh 23 Oz appx. The base measures 3-1/8" x 3-1/8" and the entire key is done in polished brass. It is called the "Very High Speed" model although that is entirely wasted upon me as I am mostly a straight key user.

I noted when I checked the price list last he is making these now even in nickel plated, gold plated, solid gold, solid silver or gold with jewels ? Wow. out of my league - Maybe for a Saudi prince ?

Fig. 19: Bencher 'Hex'

SOLD

SN 0153 At a price of $189.95 + S&H etc., this is one of Bencher's newest products.

The hex shaped base is rather unique. This magnetic tension paddle is a stay put performer weighing in at 3 lb - 8 oz. Overall length is 5 - 1/8". I really liked this top notch paddle.

Contacts are gold plated silver. Adjustment is via a supplied Allen tool. I will have to fault a common sin committed all too often. You have to remove the screws which go through the base and into the top posts in order to change or add a cable. It is a mess
to juggle the parts and get it tightened back and aligned properly. A cheapo shortcut.

Much better would be a stereo jack on the rear, hardwired permanently.

Fig 20: Begali Simplex Mono

SOLD

SN 082 With gold plated components on a Palladium plated base, this spring-tensioned single lever action, non - iambic paddle key is a robust 2 lb -10 oz in weight. The base is 3 -1/8" x 3 - 1/8". Overall it is 4 - 1/2" in length. Begali has produced this key for the more budget conscious by using springs, and by not providing a stereo jack for cable connection as his more costly paddles have.

Fig. 21: WB9LPU Ball - pivot

SOLD

This paddle was designed and built by Richard Meiss, WB9LPU. It was a prototype of a design he is working to perfect whose total construction would require only a drill press and common hand tools such as metal saws, files, taps, etc. that most likely would be found in the shops of most hams. This particular one is as shown, mounted on a wooden base.

I feel it would have greatly benefited it to mount it on a heavy metal or stone base for more stability. Leaving the wooden base alone, it would not have been a very difficult for me to do had I kept it. As it sat, it was very easy to upset.

Fig. 22: W5JH Black Widow

Available

A new paddle kit from Jerry Haigwood W5JH. This paddle is of all brass construction with a 3 inch x 3 inch base. It uses computer controlled machined parts for excellent fit and accuracy.

The paddle has both spring and magnetic return force. The paddle arms ride on precision ball bearings for an extremely smooth feel. The contacts are silver plated for low resistance. Each arm has a silver plated wire ground to prevent intermittents . Almost everything is adjustable including bearing tension,
contact spacing, and magnetic return force. Set screws lock everything down once you set the paddle the way you like it. A small Allen wrench is provided for the set screws. Knurled nuts are provided to connect your cable to the paddle. Soft plastic feet keep the 1 lb 7 oz paddle from sliding around your table. I'd still use a rubber shelf liner. It is stable, but still small.

This was a fun kit for me to build. The hardest part was polishing and obtaining an even clear coat. Putting on the tension bar proved to be a one man, one wife operation to keep the bearings from rolling away till we could get the bolts in and tight.

US ORDERS: $64 U.S.$ includes USPS
Priority Shipping for the kit. A BARGAIN !

http://www.w5jh.net/Black Widow.htm

Fig. 23: G4ZPY Std. Single Lever

Available

A new addition, weighing in at 1 lb. 5-1/4 oz. this nice little paddle has two paddles for comfort, but is single lever. It has a unique single spring return system consisting of a spring which attaches to the end of the lever at the rear and in line with the lever. The lever pulls it sideways, as opposed to the conventional perpendicular dual spring systems which compress longitudinally. The base is about 3-1/8" x 3"

A "deluxe" single lever model is available for slightly more which only differs from this one by having a miniature stereo jack for connection.

Fig 14 W9WBL VSL Single Lever

SOLD

Made by Stan Hails Jr. W9WBL, this novel single lever paddle weighs in at a respectable 2 lb 11.4 oz. The width is about 3-1/2 inches and depth 2-1/2 inches. Height is abt 3 inches. It has feet top, bottom and back. I gather you can flip it in three different directions depending upon what you feel like on a particular day.

The front panel is made fom 1/2 inch Plexiglas. Connection to the paddle is through use of an adapter cord via two separate RCA female sockets on the rear.
The other end of the cable is a 1/8" stereo plug. If the keying is reversed, you can just swap the RCA plugs around. I can't find out a damned thing about when he made these and there is no serial number or date which is rather uncommon for limited quantity home shop items such as this. A very nice "feel" to it, but I'm not much of a paddle guy.