SKCC Club Keys by W1SFR

SKCC Straight Key

The SKCC Straight Key is handmade by Steve Roberts, W1SFR, and uses a torsion bar to provide tension. There are no springs or magnets to mess with - just adjust the contact spacing as you like. This key uses the same proven torsion bar design for the mechanics that you will find on other W1SFR keys. The key lever is attached to the torsion bar and turns free at the right side post while being held tightly by the post on the left.

The movement of the lever is barely perceptible but the tension when the lever is pressed always brings the lever back to the same up position even if it moves just a few thousands of an inch. The knob is hand turned out of Delrin and is modeled after the Navy Flameproof key

The base is polished Vermont marble with the SKCC Logo laser engraved on it. This marble, which is radioactive-age dated to 450 million years old, is only found in Vermont at a quarry near Steve. It is cut and polished at a nearby mill using machinery still in use from the turn of the century. The marble base measures 3" x 5" x 3/4" thick and the entire key weighs in at 1 pound, 5 ounces.

The key comes with a cord terminated with a 3.5mm jack.

SKCC Sideswiper Key

The SKCC Sideswiper Key is handmade by Steve Roberts, W1SFR, and uses a torsion bar to provide tension. There are no springs or magnets to mess with - just adjust the contact spacing as you like. This key uses the same proven torsion bar design for the mechanics that you will find on other W1SFR keys. The single lever is attached to the torsion pin and floats free at the base of the key while being held tightly at the top of the pin holder. The movement of the lever is barely perceptible but the tension when the lever is moved from side to side always brings the lever back to center even if it moves just a few thousands of an inch.

The custom made finger pieces are made out of Bubinga - a very hard and beautifully grained wood. They are hand sanded, contoured and then finished with an antique oil finish. The polished wood provides a very special feel and is only found on W1SFR keys.

The base is polished Vermont marble with the SKCC Logo laser engraved on it. This marble, which is carbon dated to 450 million years old, is only found in Vermont at a quarry near Steve. It is cut and polished at a nearby mill using machinery still in use from the turn of the century. The marble base measures 3" x 5" x 3/4" thick and the entire key weighs in at 1 pound, 5 ounces.

The key comes with a cord terminated with a 3.5mm jack.

If you look at the bottom of the key, you will see that the two contact posts are shorted out with a wire which makes this key into an SKCC approved cootie key. However, the jumper can be cut or removed to turn the key into a single-lever paddle. If you decide to use this key as a paddle by removing the cootie jumper wire, you can still use a 3.5mm stereo to mono adapter to easily switch back and forth from paddle to cootie mode.