1932
Serial
#106xxx
D3 Nameplate
Between
1929
and
1936
the
Lightning,
Blue Racer, and
Original were available with optional red, blue, and green bases. They are
quite scarce, and there is no agreement about which finishes are
authentic.
This key obviously worked for a living. It was used hard, perhaps by a Western Union telegrapher. That component on the binding posts probably is a capacitor, which Tom French (W1IMQ) kindly shared with me, was used back in the day to eliminate key clicks. Following some of Tom Perera's (W1TP) helpful suggestions, I believe the color is authentic for these reasons: (1) The key's serial number fits into the historical time period. (2) I checked the pins securing the nameplate. There is no observable evidence that they were ever bent and removed so the plate could be lifted to allow for repainting. Red paint, however, is visible beneath the nameplate, indicating that it probably was added at the time of production. (3) There is red paint (crackle) beneath all the castings, some globs having seeped into some of the screw holes.
This key obviously worked for a living. It was used hard, perhaps by a Western Union telegrapher. That component on the binding posts probably is a capacitor, which Tom French (W1IMQ) kindly shared with me, was used back in the day to eliminate key clicks. Following some of Tom Perera's (W1TP) helpful suggestions, I believe the color is authentic for these reasons: (1) The key's serial number fits into the historical time period. (2) I checked the pins securing the nameplate. There is no observable evidence that they were ever bent and removed so the plate could be lifted to allow for repainting. Red paint, however, is visible beneath the nameplate, indicating that it probably was added at the time of production. (3) There is red paint (crackle) beneath all the castings, some globs having seeped into some of the screw holes.