Bulgaria
Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key 

Base size      5" X 7"
     finish    red paint
     material  sheet metal
Aquired        March 2ØØ3
from the E-Bay write-up: I got this in Bulgaria and since these were illegl for private ownership after 1944, this has to predate that time.
Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key
Manufactured in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria Warsaw Pact Military Key

Base size      3" X 5"
     finish    Black
Aquired        April 2ØØ1
From           Tony LZ1JZ
Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key
Manufactured in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria Warsaw Pact Military Key 

Base size      3" X 5"
     finish    Black
Aquired        April 2ØØ1
From           Tony LZ1JZ
Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key Bulgarian Key
Manufactured in Razgrad, Bulgaria Warsaw Pact Military Key 

Base size      3.5" X 5.5"
     finish    Black
Aquired        December 2ØØØ
From           Barry K2JV

From the ebay description:

This is a great souvenir of Eastern Europe from the Soviet Era It is a perfectly usable Morse Code Key. On the cover the name of the factory, "G. Damianov" and the city of manufacture "Razgrad" is imprinted, in Cyrillic.

These keys were made in Bulgaria, for use in Bulgaria, but possibly on specifications from Moscow.

From an e-mail from Barry K2JV:

First take a look at my "about ME" page on eBay and you will discover my connection with Bulgaria. The LZ hams featured on that page are the guys who send me all kinds of stuff including the keys.

I mentioned the plug in the AD. I also assume that you would like to use the key on the air. The last thing you want to do is to cut that plug off the cable. Therefore Nick has sent me a batch of 22� volt receptacles, Made in Bulgaria, into which the key plug will fit perfectly. You can make a short extension cord out of the receptacle, and to a 1/4 inch phone plug for your rig. I am temporarily out of receptacles, but he sent me a batch on Jan 3rd. They should arrive in 1� to 14 days, so I'll send your key now, and send you the receptacle when it gets here. No charge for receptacles!!

The AD also showed the embossed logo of the "G. Damianov" factory in Razgrad. I asked the guys to find out about this factory and about Damianov himself. I rec'd the following (unedited report) from Nick:

*** Hi Barry,

I find something for George Damjanov:

George Parvanov Damjanov 1892-1958 Bulgarian party and state politic.
"Hero of socialistyc work" In 1929 emigrate in USSR.
Serve in USSR Red Army.  later work in Komintern.
Member of Central Kommittee of Bulgarian Kommunist Party
from 1935. From 1937 member of foreign buro of CK of BKP.
Back home to Bulgaria after 9.sept.1944
From 1945 member of politic buro of BKP.
1946 -195Ø military minister.
============================================
In 1992 they change the name of that factory.
Now the factory's name is "han Krum" / han = king /

                    73! Nick

I have also asked someone to go to Razgrad and get photographs of the factory and try to interview some of the old workers who may have worked on the keys. Nobody wants to go during the winter because the roads are so bad, and Razgrad is in the mountains. I may have to go over myself in spring to get the pictures. HI!!


Thanks 

73 de Barry K2JV