Clipsal Morse Telegraph Key

The Clipsal Morse key was manufactured by Gerard and Goodman in Australia for use by the Australian forces in WW2

Morse Telegraph History Includes:
Morse telegraph history Morse keys development Vibroplex & mechanical bug keys Telegraph sounder Morse inker Samuel Morse Fascinating facts Morse code SOS message

Morse keys:
Clipsal key Camelback Walters Electrical Patt 1056A Post Office key Steel lever Morse telegraph key RAF Bathtub Morse key Samson ETM-5C electronic keyer

The Clipsal morse key was manufactured in Australia by Gerard and Goodman in Australia. It has rather a striking appearance with the black bakelite base contrasting with the brass lever, contacts and bearing mount.

The Clipsal key is not the same as the Australian PMG (Post Master General) key with which it is sometimes confused, although there are some similarities in the style and construction.

Video: Clipsal Morse key

Clipsal Morse key features

The Clipsal Morse key features a black bakelite base which measures just over 4 ½ long by just over 2 ¾ inches wide and the whole key is about 3 ⅜ inches high.

View of Clipsal Morse key showing the external conenctiosn to the key — View of Clipsal Morse key

The key has a black bakelite base and brass is used for the fittings and the straight, wide, and flat lever. The handle or knob is the same as the British knurled type bakelite knob.

As the lever mechanism and contacts are manufactured from brass this gives the whole assembly a good firm structure and feel.

This makes it about 115 by 70 by 85 mm in metric measurements and the Clipsal key used weighed around 0.45kg.

View of Clipsal Morse key showing the name on the key — View of Morse key showing the Clipsal name on the key

The Clipsal key came in two versions: one had two contacts and there was also a three contact version. The three contact version allowed for the first contact to be a "make" action when the key was depressed, and the other contact was a "break" action when the key was depressed.

Clipsal key dates

This Morse key started production in the Second World War, around 1941, and it was widely used by the Australian Armed Forces and then after the war, production continued for some while the amateur radio market. With the tooling set up, costs were not so high and some extra revenue could be gained from manufacturing a few further keys.

View of Clipsal Morse key showing the nuderside and the connections — Clipsal Morse key showing the underside and the connections

In use the key had a nice positive action but benefitted like any other key from being firmly fixed down to the desk or table. Some people have commented on how easy it was to use and how it enabled them to send better Morse code as a result.