Retro Technology

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A place for discussion, videos, pictures, and other related content of retro and vintage technology of all kinds. Especially retro tech that is still in use today.

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My Grandfathers pre-war Signal Electric MFG Co. Morse Key (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago by directive0 to c/[email protected]

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've inherited all my grandfathers radio and telegraph equipment. I have lots of memories of sitting on his lap in his radio room while he talked to people on the other side of the world before the internet was really a thing. He passed away in the mid 90's and I think he would have loved this modern world and all its tools for instant communication.

This piece is likely from Signal Electrics Telegraph learners kit, there appears to be many eras of this kit from the 1920s until the 40s. I suspect he got this around the 30's but I'm not sure. Its a really cool piece of retro tech tho.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

That is cool. I learned visual Morse code while in the navy, but audio Morse is another thing altogether.

Tangential: I’m thinking of getting a ham radio license.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Such a beautiful straight-key! I bet there are plenty in the ham radio community who would appreciate a piece like that.

Is it your grandfather's name engraved in the bottom left?

[–] directive0 1 points 6 months ago

It is yeah. His other key has his call sign on it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

I have lots of memories of sitting on his lap in his radio room while he talked to people on the other side of the world before the internet was really a thing.

So your grandfather was part of the ol' "analogue" internet, huh? That's cool!

[–] Diplomjodler3 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Pre which war?

[–] directive0 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I meant WW2 but I see the term I was searching for was "Interwar"

[–] Diplomjodler3 1 points 6 months ago

Looks more like 19th century than 20th century technology to me.