Monday, Oct. 31, 2016 — Several entries back, I wrote about a very nicely built homebrew brass straight key that I added to my collection. Thanks to sharp eyes of fellow key collector Claudio Ruggieri, IZ0KRC, I now believe my new key was built by noted key maker John Merrick, VE3AUB / 
VE3AWA. Claudio linked to some photos of a Merrick bug that showed the similarities between the adjustment screws and lock nuts on the straight key with those on one of Merrick’s right-angle bugs.
The parts share a common heritage, that much is clear. I can find no photos of a straight key Merrick may have built (and not many photos of his upright or right-angle bugs, both of which he was well known for. Given the similarities, there’s little doubt in my mind this key is a Merrick key — not that it makes much difference. I’m very pleased to have a Merrick key in my collection.
1935 MAC KEY REVISITED. While visiting Claudio’s website, I found some excellent photos of a fine condition 1935 Mac Key that Claudio obtained from Tom French, W1IMQ. The key is one of the deep-vee keys built later in the model year.
Claudio’s photos confirmed some things about my own key:
- The dual paddles had only one screw and nut attaching them to the keying lever. Apparently, the single thumb piece on my key is an original one; the second one is missing.
- The difference between the “deep” and “shallow” vee keys is where the center point of the contact bars is mounted; the later keys have a lower mounting point, hence the “deeper” vee.
- The keying lever on Claudio’s key appears to have a better alignment (front-to-back) than the one I have. Not that it is a big deal, it just looks nicer.
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