THE ST. LOUIS KEY
The St. Louis key is actually a not so much an individual key, but a way of making all sorts of keys.
The “key” ingredient ( pardon the pun) is the use of parts salvaged from old Telephone Lever Switches and telephone relays.
These parts are long springy levers with very good contact points, sometimes even made of silver. Here is a picture of a typical switch:
The handle even makes a nice knob for the keyer paddles.
A vast array of keys have been made in every style and combination of styles. Use you imagination to
Come up with your own wrinkle. Here is an assortment of the ones that I use around my shack.
Happy Homebrewing
Geo>K0FF
Further construction info and parts sources at
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Copyright 2003 GEOelectronics