An old brass GPO key

A bog-standard brass GPO key, I think. I can't remember where it came from, I picked it up somewhere along my radio journey.

It's quite a nice little key, but I find it a bit “hard” - there's no springiness to the contact closure whatsoever. My HK-708 has a little give, mainly I think due to the spring-loaded ball bearings holding the trunnion rods - but this GPO key is very “rigid”. It sends nicely, once I get used to the feel. I've got it adjusted to my liking, and can happily send at 20+ wpm, but I have to be in the right mood to enjoy using it. If I had to use only one key, and it was this one, I'm sure I'd be happy, but while I have a choice I tend to pick something else.

Seeing how different keys feel does make me wonder about obtaining more, just for the interesting variety of sending feel that's there to be sampled!

— John Pumford-Green 20/06/23 05:46