Some really cool things so far
This is my oldest bit of kit is a straight morse key. It is of unknown brand but is a "Spark Gap" type for high voltage CW transmissions, it is also paired with an grounding block for antenna connections with built in spark gaps for grounding back EMF pulses from the antenna system when the key is released to stop the operator from being shocked or killed.
Here is the wiki link on spark gap transmitters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark-gap_transmitterAs to the age, I dont know about the grounding block but it has a bakerlite base so is more "modern" then the key. The key is handmade and has the stamp
"VIC RMS TEL" stamped in the wood on one side and
"R72"I am guessing the R72 marking might mean Region 72, as for the marking VIC RMS TEL, after a few weeks of searching the webz I worked out what it meant.
From settlement of Australia in circa 1788 the mail system was handled by the Royal Mail Service as we were a British colony, thats the RMS bit, VIC refers to one of two things either Queen Victoria or the state of Victoria in Australia, Victoria was settled in circa 1803 and the TEL marking refers to Telegraphy rather then Postal services.
Now this leads to the PMG (Post Master General) and its establishment in Australia in 1901 at the time of federation, this means that the Morse key pre-dates the formation of the PMG department at the time of federation making it older then 1901.
I bought the key and spark gap grounding block for AU$50 from an old bloke who had no idea where it came from just it had been in his family since he was a child, when I got it it had all been coated in clear lacquer that had yellowed and flaked, now as most of you here can appreciate functional equipment is better then bling so the first thing I did was completely dismantle all the metal components and soak them in thinners to remove said lacquer.
The key is brass with casting marks all over it and hand filing marks, the spark gap grounding block looks like nickel that went straight back together, however the key was a bit more of a challenge. I first had to rethread the adjustment screw for the spring tension and replace the spring as it had stretched and rusted being steel, then I oiled the armature with silicone lube.
Now I wanted to use the key but it was designed for high voltages (KVolts) and would not conduct a reliable low voltage of 12VDC through the pivot pin of the armature so I ran a small bit of solder braid from the armature back to the terminal through the base, also the knob was missing so after a few months scouring hardware stores I found a drawer knob that looked the part and I now have a fully functional straight key with a really nice movement, the contacts are all watch silver. I have also mounted both to an aluminium plate with rubber feet to make it useable, now I just have to learn morse code