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Reviews For: Alberto Frattini I1QOD Sideswiper Chrome

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Alberto Frattini I1QOD Sideswiper Chrome
Reviews: 8MSRP: 435.00
Description:
I1QOD new key,a sideswiper Chrome type Dyna Maniflex
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i1qod.it
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0085
K7FD Rating: 2020-05-12
Ferrari of sideswipers Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you ever get a chance to get behind the wheel of one these, I suggest you fasten your seat belt. The smoothest of the smooth...and craftsmanship off the scale. It looks fast just parked on the desk. And more chrome than the grill of a '53 Buick.

John K7FD
OH5JJL Rating: 2018-09-17
Looks beautiful, works great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently bought this key from Alberto. I had been looking for a very long time the original Dyna Maniflex sideswiper but without any success. Then I decided to buy this new version from Alberto.

I can honestly say he is a true master! This key is incredibly beautiful and feels great as well. After using my homebrew sideswipers this feels a bit stiffer but not in a bad way. Alberto kept me extremely well informed about the shipment during its travel from Italy to Finland. So I can highly recommend Alberto to every true cw friend!
K7QBW Rating: 2018-06-22
A Work of Art Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just received mine this week after a four month wait, and it was worth the wait and I'm not disappointed.
Alberto is truly an artist, this rendition of the original is a masterpiece.

A little history on what lead me to Alberto. My interest in side swipers began a few years ago after renewing my interest in CW. I began looking for a "cootie key" after reading some history about CW. My first attempt was the purchase of the VisKey single paddle while Tom still made them himself. Nice key but too light to slap around and found it fustrating to use, so I sold it and purchased a Kent single paddle. I wasn't happy with that either and sold it and gave up on the cootie key. Then I discoverd Begali and ordered the HST. Much better than previous attempts but for some reason that key and me did not get along so I sold that and went back to my Begali Blade. Then I decided that I needed a paddle to go along with my new IC7300 and ordered a Begali Simplex Single paddle since I do not like iambic keying. Much to my surprise when I hooked it in parallel with the Blade it functioned as a cootie key and so I renewed my interest in learning the art of cootie. The Simplex was heavy enough to slap around and functioned very well and I learned the technique of side swiping. I was primed at that point to make the investment into the Begali Swing. In meantime I became interested in the Begali CW Machine and started watching some youtube videos when I came across WB2LQF's video and discovered Stan's comparison between the Swing, Sideswiper and homemade cootie. I did a quick search on Alberto's SideSwiper and liked what I saw. Wrestling with a decision to go Swing or SideSwiper it finally came down to the SideSwiper. The reasoning behind that decision boiled down to nostalgia, I wanted a classic sideswiper with the classic feel of the cootie. In addition, Alberto's keys are all handmade and having worked in a machine shop I admire and appreciate that.
Since receiving my new key from Alberto I have sold both the Begali Blade and Simplex mono and ordered Alberto's Swedish Straight key chrome. Always nice to have a straight key for a change of pace.
I can't afford fine Italian sports cars, but this is the next best thing as I'll spend more time with them in the long run. Too bad I had to wait this long in life to be able to afford them.
Now I didn't intend to make an ad for begali and they are nice keys as well. One final thought, on the other end of the QSO, the receiving end will never know if I'm running a homemade cootie out of a butter knife or a Frattini SideSwiper, but I enjoy the sheer pleasure of looking at it and operating it. I could paint my own paintings of Oregon landscapes or I could buy one that I really enjoy looking at. 73 OM!
NQ5T Rating: 2018-06-20
Stunningly Beautiful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I waited about 3 1/2 months for this key. It was definitely worth the wait and cost.

It's handcrafted, absolutely gorgeous, perfection. Took maybe 1/2 hour fiddling with arm tension and contact spacing to get it just right (for me).

Couldn't be happier
WB2LQF Rating: 2014-12-01
Stunning presentation; superb operation Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This sideswiper is incredibly beautiful to gaze upon but also possesses "inner beauty" which translates into stunningly smooth and accurate performance. I especially like the simple but effective method used to tense up the main arm. The silver contacts are huge! When the arm makes contact, there is just the right amount of over-travel to produce a nice, soft landing. I compared this key to a borrowed Begali Sculpture "Swing" and they are both top-of-the-line instruments. The Begali Swing is a sophisticated instrument, produced with sophisticated equipment, hewn out of stainless steel, and incorporating creative and modern engineering design. The Dyna-Maniflex is a recreation of an historic key by one man working in his "laboratory" to create a handmade masterpiece! Both are superb instruments with wide ranges of adjustment to produce just the right amount of stiffness and tailor the over-travel to your liking. The Dyna-Maniflex will appeal to the operator who desires to own a modern version of a key with a rich history. The Dyna-Maniflex will also satisfy the needs of those who place a value on high quality, precision handcrafted products.
IK0PHU Rating: 2014-07-30
IK0PHU Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ciao everyone,
I am IK0PHU, Antonello, "Tony for friends" I wanted to say a few words about my last key: the Side Swiper.
This Key was made by a famous Italian artist, Alberto Frattini, I1QOD.
Albert, besides being a dear friend, is also a master of mechanics and the realization of your keys, recognizable by their engraved logo: the hummingbird.
I own other keys of Alberto: the Marconi 213; the “bug” J36; last, but no least, I also ordered the iambic Blade chrome but they are many years of your knowledge.
Returning to Sider Swiper, "SS" I must say that just saw gave me the impression of a Key very solid, with a weight of about 1.5 kg, is placed heavily on the work table, but then, after some small and simple adjustments, its central rod, moving left / right, makes handling very restful to your hand, a little less for the brain, accustomed to with other types of keys, initially struggled to make it clear to the wrist, which is not a rule have the points to the left and right lines.
In case of SS, there are no special rules except to combine the letters using both contacts.
The key is really nice, chrome-plated and polished, like all the others of Alberto; remains stationary to shock of the fingers and gently, as you touch, becomes a dragonfly wing, emitting that classic good sound that only the Side Swiper can do.
I recommend everyone to try, it out is another way to make CW, a different instrument but in the end, he always manages to pull out some good music.
Very 73, Antonello Urbani, IK0PHU - I.N.O.R.C #632 –


Ciao a tutti,
sono IK0PHU, Antonello, volevo spendere qualche parola riguardo il mio ultimo tasto: il Side Swiper.
Questo tasto è stato realizzato da un noto artista Italiano, Alberto Frattini, I1QOD.
Alberto, oltre ad essere un caro Amico, è anche un maestro della meccanica e nella realizzazione dei Suoi tasti, riconoscibili dal marchio inciso: il colibrì.
Di Alberto, posseggo il Marconi 213, lo J36, Bug, ho ordinato anche lo iambic Blade chrome ma questi, sono già da molti anni di Vostra conoscenza.
Tornando al Sider Swiper, "SS" devo dire che appena visto mi ha dato subito l'impressione di un tasto molto massiccio, con un peso di circa 1,5 kg, si posiziona pesantemente sul tavolo di lavoro ma poi, dopo alcune piccole e semplici regolazioni, la sua asta centrale, con movimento destro / sinistro, rende la manipolazione molto riposante per la mano, un pò meno per il cervello che, abituato con altri tipi di tasti, inizialmente fatica a far capire al polso, che non è una regola avere i punti a sinistra e le linee a destra.
Nel caso del SS, non ci sono regole particolari tranne di combinare le lettere usando tutte e due i contatti.
Il tasto è veramente bello, cromato e lucido, come del resto tutti gli altri di Alberto; rimane fermo ai colpi delle dita e delicatamente, appena si sfiora, si trasforma in un’ala di libellula emettendo quel classico buon suono che solo il Side Swiper riesce a fare.
Consiglio a tutti di provarlo, è un'altro modo di fare CW, uno strumento diverso ma alla fine, riesce sempre a tirare fuori della buona musica.
Un caro 73, Antonello Urbani IK0PHU - I.N.O.R.C. # 632
IZ7FUN Rating: 2014-07-29
side-swiper I1QOD Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For some days I'm lucky to have the last key built by Alberto Frattini, I1QOD. It is a side-swiper type Maniflex, which exceeded all my expectations. It 'a key that is aesthetically very beautiful and elegant, and mechanically very simple and sturdy and excellent maneuverability. During the manipulation, there are no stability problems, since its weight is more than enough to keep him firmly on the desk. The blade is very light and accurate and is sufficient to make it sound a caress. As usual, Alberto has done an excellent job; the cost of the key is perfectly suited to its performance, great Alberto.
Vito IZ7FUN
IZ0DDD Rating: 2014-07-25
key fascinating and easy to use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Alberto Frattini I1QOD recently produced a model for sideswiper taking one of the most prestigious keys that exist in the world: Maniflex manufactured in the early 50s of the last century by the French company DYNA. Alberto was impressed by the simplicity of the design, in fact the key has no mechanical springs neither magnets nor even fins cushioning on contact. But he has a genial solution to adjust the flexible arm. This magnificent invention combined with the extraordinary work of Alberto entire manual, make sideswiper unique. The material used is brass plated with adjustment parts in stainless steel, including the arm. The appearance of an instrument is solid, vigorous, in fact, placed on the table does not move even an inch. Remains stuck to the plan even if you attempt to move it forcibly. The manipulation, however, is as light as the touch of a butterfly. An incredible sensation by observing its robustness, a caress in a fist I dare say. I own this key only for a few days but already I am very fascinated. I am working on the band of 40 meters intriguing the usual local friends for manipulating music releases. I am very pleased to have this key and I would like to thank Alberto for the wonderful product created.
Pappalardo, Op. Lino IZ0DDD