ON6WJ's keys.
Introduction.
In November 2013, on a Sunday evening on 80 meter, I heard a QSO between F5LAW and PA3BYW going on. The keying was strange, funny, something like music, no Vibroplex sound but a bit likely. So I joined the QSO, both chaps explained me that they were using a sideswiper. Since then I've been cootie addicted, I blame these 2 foreigners for this, HI! During the following weeks I became something like an apprentice boy, totally novice in this "cootie business" and soon graduated to a simple but happy sideswiper user.
[ON6WJ].
Homebrew Unknown Soldier Sideswiper.
Vintage homebrew cootie of unknown origin, I got this key from Guido - ON6RL as a trade for another piece of equipment. This is my very first sideswiper key, I've been using it until the arrival of the "Mildam Baby". The key has a nice feel to it, a small piece of lead is "damping" a bit the steel ruler. The short video below shows the key in action while I was operating OS12M.
- Bakelite base: 70 x 100 x 10 (WxLxH mm);
- Total weight: 350 g;
- Total height: 60 mm.
[ON6WJ].
Video.
Homebrew Mildam Baby Sideswiper.
My very first sideswiper from Mildam Technology, a present from my friend Durk - PA3BYW.
- YOP (Year Of Production): 2015;
- Made by: Mildam Technology, Friesland;
- Dutch oak wood base: 65 x 100 x 8 (WxLxH mm);
- Reinforced with steel base: 100 x 100 x 10 (WxLxH mm);
- Total weight: 900 g;
- Total height: 45 mm.
[ON6WJ].
Homebrew Mildam Maniflex Sideswiper.
Being hooked to the cootie, I started looking for a Dyna Maniflex. All my attempts remaining fruitless, my good friend Durk – PA3BYW kindly knocked up this “Poor man’s Maniflex” as he called it. This is my second present from Mildam Technology, received in April 2016.
- YOP (Year Of Production): 2016;
- Made by: Mildam Technology, Friesland;
- Dutch oak wood base: 90 x 125 x 30 (WxLxH mm);
- Total weight: 810 g;
- Total height: 60 mm.
[ON6WJ].
