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Reviews For: J-5-A

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : J-5-A
Reviews: 2MSRP:
Description:
U.S. Military flameproof straight key.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0022.5
KZ3J Rating: 2020-03-02
Love this key! Too bad it's the worst key ever made Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Love this key! It is one of my favourites in my collection. The look is just so quirky, that I adore the external design and looks of it. Shame that it is, quite literally, one of the worst straight keys *ever* produced (indeed, the very first real Morse key, the 1844 Vail Lever Correspondent, is head and shoulders above this monstrosity.)
Why is it so incredibly bad? Well, it possesses a large amount of side-to-side slop, with absolutely NO easy way to adjust it out. Also, the geometry of the gap adjustment is goofy, and absolutely incorrect from a proper mechanical standpoint in every way. In other words, the design is intrinsically flawed, and why the United States was still manufacturing this abomination into WW2 is a true mystery.
W2KLS Rating: 2010-02-19
big, but fun Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this key mainly for its historical relevance; mine is a 1942 Western Electric. Its a big key with a large nave knob, and not the key for a delicate touch. That being said, mine is mounted on a 6 x 4 piece of oak and I clamp it to the edge of my operating table. With this positioning, I can transmit at 15 wpm with no problem while using the "British" style of sending code . It's fun to use and an historical conversation piece. You can usually find one on ebay or at hamfests for about $30-$50.