After WW2, the populariy of amateur radio began to skyrocket. Commercial ham radio companies, such as Collins, Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, E.F. Johnson, and then later Heathkit, Kenwood, Icom & Yaesu began to spring up everywhere, so that amateur radio enthusiasts no longer had to build their own radios. The radio transmitters, unlike the wireless sets from the early 20th century, did not require super high voltages and currents to operate, so there was no longer a need for large key contacts that could handle high current. Also gone was the circuit closer, an essential part of the telegraph key when used on early landline circuits. Some ham radio operators continued to use keys with circuit closers, as it allowed them to keep the radio in transmit mode while tuning the transmitter bias circuitry.
Below are examples of amateur radio keys from different countries, dating from post-WW2 up until the present.
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| Signal Electric R-50. Ca. 1950 |
Another View of the Signal Electric R-50 |
Early E.F. Johnson Speed-X Radio Key With Sheet Metal Pivot. Waseca, Minnesota |
Top View of the Speed-X Key |
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| A Later E.F. Johnson Speed-X Key |
The Underside of the Johnson Speed-X Key |
Speed-X Key With Hard Plastic Base |
The Underside of the Speed-X Plastic Key |
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| Oval Base Speed-X Radio Key Model 114-300 |
The Box for the Speed-X Model 114-300 |
Japanese "Swallow" HK-3 Key by Dentsu-Seiki |
Another View of the "Swallow" Key |
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| Dentsu-Seiki HK-7 |
Plastic Base Radio Key by Ota Musen, Japan |
Japanese Radio Key by Sato Parts Inc. |
Sato Parts Model 2700 |
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| Japanese Ameco Ball Bearing Pivot Key |
Underside of the Ameco Key |
Cheap Plastic Base Key by Midland, Japan |
Another View of the Midland Plastic Base Key |
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| A Similar Plastic Base Key Made by Speed-X |
Hi-Mound HK-3, Japan |
Front View of the Hi-Mound HK-3 |
Hi-Mound HK-706 |
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| Hi-Mound HK-707 |
Hi-Mound HK-802 |
Hi-Mound "High Deluxe" Key |
Another View of the "High Deluxe" Key |
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| Hi-Mound HSK-910 |
The Underside of the HSK-910 Showing a Chart of the Morse Code |
Hi-Mound HK-902 |
JRC (Japan Radio Corp.) Model KY-3A |
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| Brown Brothers Model ST Straight Key. Ca. 1964 |
Top View of the Brown Brothers ST Key |
Brown Brothers Model ST-A Straight Key. Uses a Leaf Spring Pivot. Early 1970's |
Top View of the Brown Brothers ST-A Key |
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| Amateur Radio Key by Ham Key, St. Louis Missouri |
Top View of the Ham Key Straight Key |
Nye Speed-X Chrome Plated Key, Bellevue Washington |
Top View of the Speed-X Chrome Plated Key |
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| Nye Speed-X Rectangular Base Key, Bellevue Washington |
Top View of the Nye Speed-X Key Showing the Speed-X Name Stamp |
Chrome Plated Version of the Nye Speed-X Key |
Nye Viking Master Model 330 |
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| Another View of the Nye Viking Key |
A Nye Speed-X With a Circuit Closer |
Top View of the Nye Key With a Circuit Closer |
SR-Cotel Key by Jack Sykes, G3SRK |
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| British Straight Key by R.A. Kent |
Kenpro Model KK-50, Japan |
Front View of the Kenpro Key |
Kenpro Model KK-7 |
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| Jones Key Model PK-205 |
Top View of the Jones Key |
Chinese Made Radio Key |
Another View of the Chinese Key |
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| Straight Key by Bencher |
Swedish Made Key by Lennart Pettersson |
Spanish Key by Llaves Artesanas |
The Miniature "Christmas Key" by Llaves Artesanas |
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| Straight Key by Vibroplex |
Top View of the Vibroplex Straight Key |
The Vibroplex Miniature Camelback Key |
A Radio Key Made for the SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) |
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| GHD Model 503, Japan |
GHD Model 513 |
GHD Model 501. Has a Micrometer Spacing Adjustment |
Swiss Radio Key by Stampfl. Model STM-12
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Another View of the Swiss Stampfl Key |
The Stampfl Key is Available in Multiple Colors |
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