Morse Key PS213A

Marconi PS213A Morse Key: The Standard for Professional Telegraphy

The Marconi PS213A is a classic example of a heavy-duty, professional-grade straight key, primarily designed for sustained, high-reliability operation in commercial and maritime radio stations throughout the mid-20th century.

Key Features and Design

• Robust Construction: The PS213A is built for stability and longevity. It typically features a heavy cast base (often finished in black or grey) that provides excellent stability, preventing key movement during high-speed sending. This heavy base is essential for maintaining consistent speed and rhythm, especially on ship decks or busy communication floors.
• Precision Mechanism: The key uses a simple yet highly effective lever mechanism and features a prominent knob. It is engineered with adjustable contacts, allowing the operator to finely set the gap and spring tension. This adjustability ensures a comfortable "feel" (or QSK) tailored to the individual operator's sending style and speed.
• Insulation: Given its intended use with high-power transmitters, the key mechanism is carefully mounted and insulated from the base, often using robust ceramic or high-quality plastic pillars, ensuring electrical safety and signal integrity.
• Terminal Connections: The base includes secure binding posts for connecting the transmission line (often featuring a safety shorting switch, though sometimes external to the key itself).

Here you find 97 models, 95 with images and 17 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.
All listed radios etc. from Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd.