US Navy key info needed...

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this, but ...

My grandfather was a CW op in the Navy (aboard ship) from 1928 - 1931. Does anyone know what type of key he may have used during that time? Not sure if they used straight keys or early bugs.

73
Milt

 

Milt -

A straight key or a semi-automatic bug (Vibroplex) would be possible.

Randy Cole, KN6W has made significant contributions to Vibroplex collectors over the past decade by assembling and hosting The Vibroplex Collector's Page in 1996.
http://www.la.ca.us/frandy/

Tom Perera, W1TP and his on-line Telegrapher's Museum - should also be consulted.
Tom served as a historical consultant for writers, authors and production companies (e.g. radio, TV, movies).
http://chss.montclair.edu/~pererat/telegraph.html

w9gb

 

Thanks. That was extremely helpful.
73
Milt

 

He might have used an SB-315/U (see link).

http://www.surplussales.com/Equipment/HamEquipment/keys.html

I was on active duty from '63-'66. We had these keys available at each local operating position (LOP). They were pretty versatile keys and easy to use once the adjustments were properly made. If you wanted to use another key, you just plugged it in the jack on top. Most of us had our own bugs for when traffic got heavy. For average stuff, though, I often spent a whole watch with just the 315.

 

My bet would be some form of flameproof key such as seen in the post above. The contacts were inside a protective housing so if there were a spark present, there could not be a flash fire due to fumes in the area.