Bought it on eBay. Made in the USA, in the 40′s, by Lionel Corporation and used during the WWII years.
The J-38 type of CW/Morse keys were used by all branches of the US military. Were manufactured as part of the the war effort by a few specialized US companies. They manufactured them almost identical and sometimes it is hard to recognize the factory that produced that particular model.
Some of the companies were:
American Radio Hardware (ARH), Lionel Corporation, Telegraph Apparatus Corporation (TAC) and there were two more of unknown manufacture: One made entirely of brass including its frame and, the last one, made entirely of white metal including the frame.
They look all the same and parts are interchangeable between different manufacturers.
Very small differences that could give away the possible manufacturer are known.
The most easily type of J-38 CW keys to identify is the one made by the Lionel Corporation.
-Lionel had round corners in the Bakelite base of their keys. All others were sharp square.
-Lionel had a different angled knurling pattern on their lock nuts. All others had a normal straight vertical knurling pattern on their lock nuts.
-Lionel had the company name “Lionel Corporation” cast in between the trunnion supports. All others didn’t have a company name written anywhere.
-Lionel painted their frames black. All others didn’t paint them.
-Lionel had the Lionel logo cast in the bottom of the Bakelite base. All others didn’t have any marks.
-Lionel installed position pins on all wire posts (rear and inner posts), to stop this posts from turning or getting loose during usage. All others had them only on the rear posts, the ones that are used for training. Lionel located their inner posts position pins in order to form a 45 degree angle.
All this extra features makes Lionel keys easy to spot and to be recognized.
Of all J-38s, Lionel seems to be the more common ones.They are recognized as being the ones with the best quality and attention to detail of all J-38s made.
After 70 years, thousands are still in use today in the hands of fellow Ham Radio CW Operators.
Lionel Corporation no longer produces this keys but the Company is well known and are still in operation. They manufacture Electric Toy Scale Train sets.Their toy products had set the standard in the USA for decades.
Got my Lionel J-38 CW key on eBay but it was incomplete (otherwise I could have not afforded it). Was missing the most important screw: The gap adjusting screw and it’s corresponding lock nut.
The special fine threading is no longer common. You can find the Tap and Die (ordering from the USA) to make this threads but the special external knurling on the lock nut, was a different thing.
Jack Burks, K4CNW, a fellow member of the Straight Key Century Club, came to the rescue and, knowing that it was an impossible to find the obsolete screw in my country, looked around, found the parts and sent them to me. My key is again complete with all its parts and all are original from Lionel. Thank You Jack!
Hope you guys may like the video.
73′s de Rob.
YS1RS
Enhance your outdoor living space by building your own slide-on wire hung canopy system for your pergola. They provide adjustable shade creating a relaxing, stylish outdoor living space which can greatly increase the appeal of your home and give an oasis for family and friends to enjoy the great outdoors in comfort, even on the sunniest of days.
Wire hung canopies are easy to add to an existing pergola or a free standing structure. Follow this step by step tutorial video to make one for yourself. Use the calculator (link below) and enter your structure’s dimensions for an immediate computation for the number of panels required, size of panels, and span distances.
The calculator also provides a detailed materials list catered to your specific measurements. Use the materials list and visit https://www.sailrite.com to order the supplies and tools you need to make your own wire hung canopy system today!
Slide-On Wire Hung Canopies Calculator Link: https://fabric-calculator.com/wirehungcanopy/index.html
How to Make a Slide-On Wire Hung Canopy Chapters:
• Measuring Pergola & Calculating Panel Dimensions – 0:34 min
• Installing Eye Bolts – 4:34 min
• Rigging Wires – 10:10 min
• Cutting Fabric & Hemming Sides – 21:24 min
• Creating First Sleeve – 35:22 min
• Creating Intermediate Sleeves – 41:18 min
• Creating Last Sleeve – 51:35 min
• Installing Drainage Grommets – 55:49 min
• Preparing Pipes for Sleeves – 59:08 min
• Attaching Hardware to Panels – 1:06:46 min
• Hanging Panels – 1:15:44 min
• Installing Pulley & Rope System (Optional) – 1:17:01 min
• Materials List – 1:36:58 min
Materials List:
Polyfab Pro Stainless Steel Eye Bolt With Nut & Washers 5/16″ (8mm) – Item # 120270
Polyfab Pro Stainless Steel Turnbuckle Eye & Eye With Nut 5/16″ (8mm) – Item # 120267
½” EMT Conduit Pipe *
Nicopress Sleeves 1/8″ – Item # 23103
Wire Rope 7×7 Stainless Steel 1/8″ – Item # 105433
Phifertex Plus Vinyl Mesh Garden Green 54″ Fabric – Item # 3013966
Seamstick 1/4″ Basting Tape for Canvas – Item # 104167
Profilen PTFE Lifetime Thread Clear 4oz Cone – Item # 107128
Strap Eye Stamped Stainless Steel by Suncor – Item # 120461
Self-Drilling Screws Stainless Steel #8 x ½”
Fixed Eye Snap Hook Stainless Steel 3/8″ – Item # 105434
Harken 092 Cheek Bullet Block – Item # 123092 ᶲ
Pan Head Screws Stainless Steel #8 x ¾” * ᶲ
Harken 226 Micro Block Double – Item # 120387 ᶲ
Harken 082 Bullet Block Single – Item # 123082 ᶲ
Leechline Dacron 1/8″ – Item # 212114 (Black) – Item # 21209 (White) ᶲ
Harken 471 Micro Carbo-Cam Cleat – Item # 423100 ᶲ
Pan Head Screws Stainless Steel #8 x 1 ¼” * ᶲ
Spur Grommet #2 – Item #26316 – Not required for Phifertex fabric!
1” Polyester or Sunbrella Webbing – Item #531600 – Not required if pulley rope system is used
Tools List:
Nicopress Installation Tool – Item # 19203
Sailrite® Canvas Patterning Ruler – Item # 107040
Sailrite® Edge Hotknife Package (110 Volt) – Item # 103800
Sailrite Ultrafeed® LSZ-1 PLUS Walking Foot Sewing Machine – Item # 300602
Sailrite® Deluxe 5 1/2″ Magnetic Sewing Guide – Item # 103597
Tube Cutting Tool – Item # 1358
Premium Cutting Block 5″ x 5″ – Item # 103651
Hole Cutter 1/8″ (4mm) – Item # 102235
Dies Set for Spur Grommet #2 – Item #18203 – Not required for Phifertex fabric!
Common Household Tools List:
Ladder, Tape Measure, Pencil, Marker, Yardstick, L-Square, Hacksaw, Scissors, Metal File, Dremel Tool & Cutting Wheel, Stapler, Drill & Bits (1/8” & 5/16), ¼” Socket Driver, Wrench, Screw Driver, Hammer, Needle Nose Pliers
Key/Legend:
* Must be supplied by local hardware store
ᶲ Required only for Rope Pulley Open/Close System
Slide-On Wire Hung Canopies Calculator Link: https://fabric-calculator.com/wirehungcanopy/index.html
Several viewers have asked what was used to build the wooden pergola in this video. Here is the list of the main materials used:
• Posts = 6 x 6 x 10′ Red Cedar Timber – Rough Sawn (Actual Size 6″ x 6″ x 10′) – 4 each
Posts = 6 x 6 x 12′ Red Cedar Timber – Rough Sawn (Actual Size 6″ x 6″ x 12′) – 1 each
• Roof Slats = 2 x 6 x 16′ Red Cedar Lumber – Rough Sawn (Actual Size 1-3/4″ x 5-3/4″ x 16′) – 11 each
• Side Beams = 2 x 8 x 16′ Red Cedar Lumber – Rough Sawn (Actual Size 1-3/4″ x 7-3/4″ x 16′) – 4 each
• 3/8″ x 10″ Carriage Bolts – 12 each
• 3/8-16 Hex Nuts – 12 each
• 3/8″ Flat Washers – 12 each
• #9 x 3″ Premium Exterior Deck Screws – 5lb box
• OZCO Ornamental Wood Ties 6″ x 6″ Post Base Kit – 4 each
• Grip Fast 1/2″ x 4-1/4″ Wedge Anchor – 4 each
• Cabot Semi-Solid Deck & Siding Stain Redwood – 3 gallons