Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 — While its been a while since my last post, it isn’t for lack of desire, or that my fervor or interest in keys and ham radio is waning. The only thing dwindling in this regard is my wallet, hi hi.
A month or two back I picked up a nice Kent TP-1 iambic key off eBay that was missing its paddles (or, more correctly, they original paddles had been replaced by some plastic sleeve-type things that didn’t really replicate the original paddles). I ordered a set of replacements from Kent, as well as a replacement Kent name tag (my key was missing its label). The parts arrived weeks ago, and have laid on my desk in a stack of radio stuff since. Actually, I had moved the key off my desk and didn’t immediately find the key until a couple nights ago.
Changing the paddles requires one to remove the lever tension adjustment thumbscrew, and the contact posts. The attachment screws are brass and fairly small, and they aren’t easy to install with the contact posts in place. You can get a small screwdriver on one of the screws with the contact posts in place, but not the lower one.
Anyway, it didn’t take much time to remove the posts and install the new paddles. The key came out looking like a new one, which was my hope all along.
AN IMPOSTER ARRIVES? While cruising the Morse keys on eBay this evening, I spotted this beauty in the listings and initially thought it was an updated version of the Kent TP-1.
But wait … what about those terminal screws? Those aren’t found on the real Kent TP-1! They don’t look bad; in fact, I thought this was simply a new version of the Kent key. Turns out the key is a Chinese version of the British Kent TP-1.
The key may not be a “new” knock-off, as it uses the “old style” paddles that attach with only two screws (the “updated” TP-1 has added a third screw to each paddle). Looking at the enlarged photos of the Chinese key, it looks very well executed. In fact, comparing it to my Kent, it looks virtually identical (with the exception of the three terminal screws). Frankly, I think the terminal screws are a good addition to the key (though it means you can’t place the Kent label on the base).
Interestingly, the price of the Chinese key isn’t a great deal less than the Kent key; the Chinese key is about $10 cheaper. But it is truly a dead-ringer for the Kent. The listing for the Chinese key says the base is stainless steel; the Kent has a steel base. The finish on the Kent is a sort of matte finish paint; the Chinese key base looks to be textured, though it looks a whole lot like the Kent finish.
I got to try the Kent with the proper paddles in place, and it works like the precision instrument it is. I adjusted it down and I fell in love with it all over again. Take a little heavier touch than that Bencher keys, but still a wonderful key to use.
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