Welcome back Brian, and I sure hope to hear you 40 meters.
I am a recent come-back also, and am always looking
for someone sending code slowly. My top speed is maybe 12wpm.

I just went to a hamfest last week, and I saw a dozen or so off brand,
keys in the style of a J38 key. They averaged around $30 or so, but I think that is too much
for an older, non military-spec key. I would spend more,and get a real J-38.
Or, buy a brand new J-38 style, the "Nye Key" for $60-$70 plus shipping. I did, and it's a fine key,
that will last me a lifetime.

I've got 4 straight keys now, and still looking. So it doesn't matter too much what you start with, unless it's a piece of cheap tin, just get started.

The reason I learned code, was so that I could have QSOs using it.
If you feel the same, then I suggest that you concentrate on gaining a working knowledge
of Morse code now, and worry about speed later.

I used G4FON at any speed that I could copy accurately ( with a pencil ), and also listened
to W1AW at 5 to 13 wpm.

That practice was enough to get me making QSOs, and enjoying this hobby.

Someday I may decide to become proficient at 20-25 wpm, and talk to the fast guys.
But right now, I would love to hear more 5-10wpm CQs on the 40-80 meter bands.

Hurricane Irene tore down my minimal antenna system (and removed the tree I needed for 80 meters),
so I don't know when I will be active again, but I hope to hear you, and other new hams getting on the air.
 Soon, I hope.

Another vote for ear buds. I use the brand "skullcandy" from Best Buy. Less then $20, doesn't  make me sweat, blocks a lot of outside noise, I can still hear XYL if she is determined, and easily replaced by driving to Best Buy and back in less than an hour.
I only listen to cw (and these ear buds make it easier), but I guess they work for SSB also since they are designed for music listening.

Me too. You are not alone. I have to force myself to NOT read what I am writing or I will start missing letters.
I start reading what I just wrote, while the sender signs off. And I send R R R or dah dididi dah until I catch up.

I tell myself that someday, I will be able to read what I am writing at 13 wpm, just like I can read while I am writing at 5 -10wpm now. If I stop to think of it, copying at all, is quite an improvement over where I was a year ago.

At age 69, things don't come easy anymore....Jim

Guess I should chime in as well. I send a paper QSL to pretty much everyone I work the first time.
I do it because I like to receive QSLs, and I hope that by sending one, I will receive one.
If I don't receive one back, I don't get upset because I still had the pleasure of talking to a new contact.

I don't make a lot of contacts, 4 or 5 a week, so mail costs are not a problem for me.
I dislike contests, would rather talk to a stranger for an hour than work 50 rare DXs, and am not very interested in awards, so I am probably the odd man here.
Someday my QSL box may be full, and I will look at things differently. We will see.

As a ham who has been on the air for one whole year, I feel qualified to answer your key question.
Yes, get a real key. It will add to your comfort level as you send, and you will be able to send much better sounding code with it.
The inexpensive Ameco will work fine for you. But it will not last a lifetime, like the military surplus J-37, J-38, Navy flameproof, and many others.
 You will not regret spending $30-$50 for a quality military key. And I bet that before long you will be spending lots more than that for a really high quality new key.

If you have a bad co2 detector, then I have (or had)two of them.
The first one would sound the alarm on both 80m & 40m, sometimes (most times).
 I managed to break the case working on it, so I bought another one. It also alarms sometimes.
 I am using an 80 meter dipole with tuner and open wire feeder to work 160-6 meters, but almost entirely on 80-40 meters.

So it's not unheard of anyway.

One mans landfill is another mans treasure.
I still remember how happy I was when I moved UP to a Heathkit Apache.
Many years ago, but still, a move up for me then.
Some day I will dig out my old heathkit DX-40. But only for a nostalgic fling, not for
every day use. My FT-450 does that well enough.

The transmitter was usually an AN/WRT-2, running 500W or more.

Oh, my gosh, I finally heard from someone who actually used the equipment that I helped to build.
One of my first jobs was working in a factory assembly line (1960-1963) , building WRT-1 & WRT-2s.
I must have had my hands in a thousand of them.

Oh yes, I have looked at the GDH stuff. And I am amazed that after working 45 years in the manufacturing industry, I never saw a tool, like the GDH, made with such artistry.....Jim..kb3txh

dang, I am a sucker for a new key, and your recommendation of the skcc key just may be the one that convinced me to try one.
It doesn't appear that they have any for sale right now though, so maybe the urge will pass.

"Bengali" refers to stuff, like tigers, found in Bangladesh. "Begali" is an Italian guy who makes aircraft parts and telegraph keys.

To N6GND, Good to know.

I will definitely avoid those Bengal tigers, But I wouldn't mind congratulating Mr. Begali on the beauty of his keys.

You would think that after visiting his web site all these times, I would have noticed the difference in spelling.
Either I am getting old, or I have the ability to narrowly focus. I'm stickin with focused. Hi

P.S. This is just my personal preference, but for a lowly $70 more you could buy the beautiful begali Blade instead. 

I don't have either of those keys, but maybe I can help someone make a decision.
 
You can adapt to the American or the European style of key, without much trouble.
It's not that different, so buy the one you like the most. It will not be your last key
purchase anyway.
The knob of my speed-x, on a 1/4" steel base, is 1 1/2" high.
The knob of my Navy Flameproof, on a 1/4" base is 2 1/4" high
The knob of my kent straight key on it's wood base is 2 3/4" high.
The keys are side by side on the desk, and send about the same, with small differences
in the "feel". At least at my slow speeds of 10 wpm.

Of these three, and a J-38 clone, the best feel comes from using the Kent key. I believe
 the good feel comes from having a no play bearing at the pivot point, which the others don't have.
I assume the Bengali does as well.

I hear near constant, slow CW activity, between 7.105 and 7.119 .
The folks I work are general, or extra class, and all seem happy to send between 5 and 10 wpm.

Jim

Well Cliff, it looks like the guys have covered most of your concerns, so all that is left is for me to volunteer
to be the baked deserts tester. I'll do it.

I'll be listening for you on 80/40 meters in Maryland. I hear a lot of K2's here.

Jim...KB3TXH...69 y.o, CW only, & gettin fat.