VARIOUS MARINE KEYS.

#024..... A late 1930's Marconi M.I.M.C. Co. Type 365A Morse Key (M.I.M.C.Co. = Marconi International Marine Communications Company).

Note the row of six connecting strips labeled TR TL BR BL AC AC.This grand key was available with either Sleeve or Roller bearings (See ref. MM No.74, page 12). Description as "Key, Morse. standard key designed as cheaper edition of type 365 key". Single main contact and two back contacts. Used with Marconi equipment - 550B, 386, 386A, 387/8/9, 533, 719, 558, 398/9, 381. (See MM 75, 2001).


 

#025..... A Marconi M.I.M.C. Co. Key Type 365A Key, serial number 4448, again late 1930's. Originally from the P&O Cruise Ship "S.S. Strathmore" ("R.M.S. Strathmore" 23,500 tons carrying First class & Tourist class passengers on the India & Australia Mail Service. R.M.S.= Royal Mail Steamer) callsign GYMS, 1930's. These keys were painted in various shades of greys and blues, but mainly found in "Battleship Grey". Marconi installed these keys along with all equipment, plus Radio Officers, in many ships radio rooms. All was rented to the ship's owners.
It is interesting to note that these keys with "same number" serial numbers (eg. 4448) were invariably supplied to passenger ships. P & O probably had all the 44** keys.

R.M.S. Strathmore 1935.

Old Ship Pictures.


 

#026..... A Marconi Key Type 365B Morse Code Key from the early 1940's.
A shorter arm and with just three connecting blocks, this model was fitted with two coils, two capacitors and a resistor to assist in key-click suppression. Again available with either Sleeve or Roller bearings. A similar design to the 365A, but with single change-over contacts. Used with Marconi "Oceanspan", "Trader", etc..


 
 
 

516..... A Marconi Key Type 365D. No - It's not a 365A with bits missing! It is a 365D, assembled with the basic parts, eg. no lid, no key click supression etc. from the 1940's. The label reads: TRANSMITTING KEY. TYPE No 365D. MADE IN ENGLAND. THE M.I.M.C. Co. LTD. LONDON. (See ref: MM No.74, page 15).


 
 
 

517..... This is a Marconi 365A key as usually seen. No cover (probably used as an RO's ashtray) [RO=Radio Officer] and the base has been stripped down to its nice shiny brass.

A Link To A Marconi 365 EZ and others.


 
 
 
 

027..... A Marconi made REDIFON A 4084 EDN-A Marine Key. This key can be seen in all it's splendour on the cover of Morsum Magnificat magazine number MM56 - Feb 1998. Redifon formed in 1948 (part of the Rediffusion Co). The key is very much like the Marconi 365 keys but smaller. A rare key.


 
 
 
 

028...... ITT Marine Key.
A fine and most popular key with operators, the International Telephone & Telegraph Corporation (ITT) key. Designed and manufactured by I.M.R.Co..

  • I.M.R.Co. were a shortened version of M.I.M.C.Co. They had the contract for the Queens (the Queen Mary for one).
    (M.I.M.C.Co. = Marconi International Marine Communications Company, and I.M.R./ I.M.R.Co. = International Marine Radio Company, London [Marconi owned]).


     

    029....... This marvellous ITT Marine Key was used at Niton Radio (GNI) and was used right up to the final day on October 23rd 1987 when the CW distress watch ceased from Niton. This service was mantained by Lands End Radio to the west and North Foreland Radio to the east. Niton Radio, Isle Of Wight, U.K. opened in 1909 and finally closed in 1997. This very key can be seen in the news article at the hands of Radio Operator Martin Elson on Friday October 23rd, 1987, the final day of CW watch for Niton Radio.
  • Note the modification to this key with the addition of a round tension adjuster on the top, plus a personalised knob insert.

    NITON RADIO.



    030.Scarce Danish Marine Key made by AMPLIDAN of Copenhagen, Denmark. One of the finest pounders around!
    These Amplidan model 50713 keys were supplied with installations on Danish vessels and shore stations, and are regarded by many operators as simply the best long arm key in the World.

    THE G3YUH AMPLIDAN MK2 PROJECT .


  • Harder to find is the Amplidan supplied to Radio Holland. It does not have an Amplidan label, it was fitted with a Radio Holland (RH) label that read: "RADIO HOLLAND. BV. type SL-8. Nr . . .".
    Ex Radio Holland Radio Officer Herman Willemsen states: "Radio-Holland (RH) did not make keys, but used Junker keys, Amplidan keys and Marconi keys on board Dutch ships. RH put their label on the key. Amplidan was supposed to be their type SL-8, meaning Sleutel-8 = Morse key type 8. BV stands for Besloten Vennootschap = private company with limited liability. Herman".


     
     
     
     
     
     

    031..... Norwegian Marine Key ( a/s ELEKTRISK BUREAU OSLO, circa 1950s) Used at Portishead Radio, GKA. GKL was the main c/s of the station, GKA was the broadcast c/s. GKB GKC GKS and others were working points for ships. ( the CW ID was sent as de GKB, or de GKC etc for ships to tune into. GKU GKT were R/T channels. See this magnificent key on the cover of Morsum Magnificat MM54 October 1997.

  • Portishead Radio.


     

    032. .... Japan Radio Company (JRC) Marine Key Type KY-3A.


     
     
     
     
     
     

    033..... Royal Navy Key Type AP7681 Serial No. LM 220. Complete with cover. Not many were made with the cover as it was found to be almost as costly to make the cover as the key!


     
     
     
     
     
     

    034..... Royal Navy Key Type AP7681 with the fantastic Serial number of LM 2182 ( 2182KHz is one of the main maritime Calling/Distress frequencies).


     
     
     
     
     
     

    035..... Royal Navy Key Type AP 7681. Late Model, no serial number.


     
     
     
     
     
     

    038b. .... Royal Navy AP 65485.
    These keys were made by Marconi companies around the UK, as were many other military keys such as the AP7681's the RAF "D" types etc..


     
     
     
     
     
     

    522. .... Royal Navy AP 691. This is a rare (older than the AP65485) Navy AP 691 key. Made by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co in 1943 and featured in Morsum Magnificat magazine MM40 page 41. This one is rather tatty and is missing its spring and spring adjuster rod. Also - someone has used a wire brush on it ! Never do that! It ruins a key!


     
     
     

    504..... Naval Masthead Lamp Bridge Key Circa late 1800's (?). What an impressive key this one is ! A bone handle, bakelite base and skirt with all parts in beautifully formed brass. The base measures 5 & 1/2" long by 3" wide and 5/8" deep. Who manufactured these marvelous keys ? There is a letter "W" stamped on the underside of the main arm that is possibly Western Electric pre-1925.

  • When not in use, the bar across the front of the arm has a cam to anable the key to be locked down, and the masthead lamp then remains in the On position.


     

    043..... Naval Masthead Lamp Bridge Key Circa 1900's.


     
     
     
     
     
     

    047/48. .... Two American WW2 Flame Proof Navy Keys with US Navy Logo.
    A CMI-26003A and a CJB-26003A.
    "CMI" denotes the maker Moulded Insulator Co.
    "CJB" is the maker J.H.Bunnell.


  • These keys were once believed to be copies of German Luftwaffe keys. However - a recent blueprint has surfaced showing they are a progression of the Navy _26000 flameproof key. This document is dated Jun 2, 1919 and could be the earliest recorded use of the _26000 numbering scheme. It is now suggested that the Germans copied the Luftwaffe key from the _26003A.

    The All Important Blueprint. "J.H.BUNNELL BLUEPRINT".


     
     
     
     
     
     

    "BK"