These sideswiper keys were made by the Spanish key making company LTA (Llaves Telegraphicas Artesanas), which Google translates to, "Artisan Telegraph Keys".
I've got quite a few various models of LTA keys, and most are OK, but this sideswiper key just does not do them justice at all.
They look quite solid in the flesh, fairly chunky to look at, but the design just does not work correctly at all.
The main issue as I've mentioned before on this site is that the two return springs cancel each other out when the arm is in a central position. But this cancellation extends some way past the center, so a slight nudge of the arm will leave it off to one side or the other. If you have the gaps set really small this failure of the springs will lead to a continuous keying.
The whole feel of the key is sloppy, and there is no positive centering of the arm, it just vaguely 'floats' somewhere in the middle.
I've added it for reference, not as a recommendation, because in short they are rubbish!
73, Mark...
I've got quite a few various models of LTA keys, and most are OK, but this sideswiper key just does not do them justice at all.
They look quite solid in the flesh, fairly chunky to look at, but the design just does not work correctly at all.
The main issue as I've mentioned before on this site is that the two return springs cancel each other out when the arm is in a central position. But this cancellation extends some way past the center, so a slight nudge of the arm will leave it off to one side or the other. If you have the gaps set really small this failure of the springs will lead to a continuous keying.
The whole feel of the key is sloppy, and there is no positive centering of the arm, it just vaguely 'floats' somewhere in the middle.
I've added it for reference, not as a recommendation, because in short they are rubbish!
73, Mark...
