Thursday, July 16, 2015 –– The knock on my front door at 8:40 a.m. was something of a surprise — the mail in these parts of rural Kentucky usually doesn’t run until more like 10-11 a.m.
But I was delighted to take delivery of a fairly good size box of medium weight — could it be — YES! It was my 1938B McElroy Mac Key Deluxe I won a few days ago on eBay!
OK, you’re right — like I need another Mac Key in the shack. There’s no shortage of bugs in my shack; in fact, my shack runneth over with keys. But I saw this one and submitted a “Best Offer” and snagged it.
Why this one? Well, for starters, it has some unique properties: The key is an early 1938 (serial number 851) Marbleite finish key with a rather poor finish — the Marbleite finish is faint and not as distinct as the later keys. The key also has the large dot stabilizer but no circuit closer (the key has a place where the circuit closer lever goes … apparently it was removed by a previous owner, or never installed? Tom French’s serial number list indicates there were some early 1938B keys there without circuit closers. Perhaps owners using them in radio didn’t have a need for the circuit closer).
In the photo you can see the second weight is placed on top of the top pivot screw, which is an interesting place to store a second weight I had never considered. Overall the key is in very good shape and the key was in pretty good adjustment, indicating it was used in the recent past.
ANOTHER KEY COMING. On a lark, I decided to submit a “Best Offer” on a Globalman Electronic Keyer. It’s an interesting electronic keyer, and I once owned one 
that I later let go. Sometimes the brain gets shortcircuited by nostalgia I suppose … this sort of single-lever keyer is a kick to use … not that I would want to use one forever, but it is an interesting piece of CW Keyer history. Reminds me of using a Skillman bug.
The only real planned purchase I have for eBay soon is my decision to buy a Flex radio. The QRP Flex 1500 is tempting simply due to the affordable price point. In fact, I need to move some cash to the right account in order to make the purchase. I ran it past my wife last weekend, she didn’t seem to mind. This will come from my “radio stuff” saving account (which I will have to replenish with the sale of other stuff in the shack).
Time to get back to work on the paint in the bathroom … sigh. 73 es CUL … de KY4Z SK CL dit dit ….
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