Ham4CW
Administrator
Just having a tidy up and thought I would take a few snaps of some PS213 clones I have here. None of them could claim to be exact copies, though two out of the three do have the same, or a very similar feel to a real PS213.
There are three shown below, from left to right is the mystery key (I have no idea who made it), the second is a clone made by G3YUH, and the final one was made by G0NVT.
Taking them in order then, the mystery key is exactly that, a mystery item or at least of a mysterious origin. The brasswork is extremely well machined to a high standard, and the key even has what appear to be gold contacts. But, the entire mechanism is mounted on a green ceramic tile inset in to a woden base. I have often thought that perhaps the original base was much finer in design but was replaced by some well meaning owner.
The second key is a PS213 copy made by G3YUH. The key was copied from a real 213 and the dimentions are spot on, as is the feel of the key. However on close inspection the finish of the key is a little rougher than some of the others, with unbeveled edges and joints in the main components being visible (originals are machined from single solid pieces, not brazed sections). Having said that it is a usable key by any standards...
The final key is a PS213 clone, or rather a variant (called a PB213SLC), made by G0NVT. The finish on this key is excellent, with nearly all parts chrome plated. The adjuster screw on the back end has an inner sliding contact that is spring loaded, with a cap that can be screwed down to increase the 'softness' of the keying. The whole assembly then fits inside an even larger screw, which has a multi-layer spring washer on the base and can be screwed in and out to change the gap.
Out of the three though it must be said that this particular key has a quite a clicky sound to it, mainly due to the all plastic base. G0NVT says (on his website), that he only made 10 of these keys because buyers complained that they were too light in weight and wished for something heavier. His next variant had a machined out base with a steel plate insert for added weight. As mentioned tough, only ten of the version here were made, of which this is number one.
73, Mark...
There are three shown below, from left to right is the mystery key (I have no idea who made it), the second is a clone made by G3YUH, and the final one was made by G0NVT.
Taking them in order then, the mystery key is exactly that, a mystery item or at least of a mysterious origin. The brasswork is extremely well machined to a high standard, and the key even has what appear to be gold contacts. But, the entire mechanism is mounted on a green ceramic tile inset in to a woden base. I have often thought that perhaps the original base was much finer in design but was replaced by some well meaning owner.
The second key is a PS213 copy made by G3YUH. The key was copied from a real 213 and the dimentions are spot on, as is the feel of the key. However on close inspection the finish of the key is a little rougher than some of the others, with unbeveled edges and joints in the main components being visible (originals are machined from single solid pieces, not brazed sections). Having said that it is a usable key by any standards...
The final key is a PS213 clone, or rather a variant (called a PB213SLC), made by G0NVT. The finish on this key is excellent, with nearly all parts chrome plated. The adjuster screw on the back end has an inner sliding contact that is spring loaded, with a cap that can be screwed down to increase the 'softness' of the keying. The whole assembly then fits inside an even larger screw, which has a multi-layer spring washer on the base and can be screwed in and out to change the gap.
Out of the three though it must be said that this particular key has a quite a clicky sound to it, mainly due to the all plastic base. G0NVT says (on his website), that he only made 10 of these keys because buyers complained that they were too light in weight and wished for something heavier. His next variant had a machined out base with a steel plate insert for added weight. As mentioned tough, only ten of the version here were made, of which this is number one.
73, Mark...
