Morse key at PCH – Scheveningen Radio…

Article by Radio Officer Riccardo MEMEO (The Netherlands)

I am pleased to share with all the friends of cw some photos and informations of the telegraph key that was used at Scheveningenradio/PCH.

The key is clearly copied from the Marconi 365FZ but many efforts were made mainly to reduce the ticking noise in order to use it in large coast stations, such as Scheveningen or Portishead radio, where at peak hours 20 or more operators worked simultaneously in the same room.

The closing contact is mounted on a bridge as in the Swiss Hasler keys. The lid is also very solid and dampens the noise a lot.

Furthermore the base is covered with a layer of rubber foam about 2 or 3 mm thick.

The construction is very solid and it weighs approximately 1.5 kg, the performance is excellent and it is a joy to use it.

The key was made in the workshop of the dutch PTT in The Hague during the 60’s but I don’t know exactly when. It was made in 45 exemplars, mine is the number 37 as engraved on the lower right side. On the rear lower side there is a Dymo tape with the number 9 on it, which I think indicates the working position where this key was used (very appreciated if some former PCH operator could confirm it).

Some pictures – morse key details.