The J-38: the Classic Morse Code Straight Key (HRA

The J-38 Morse code (CW) straight key is a classic. It's been around since World War II and deserves its reputation as one of the best straight keys ever developed. Let's take a closer look!
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[@carolmartin7042]

Thank you. Used one of these keys to learn Morse code as a Boy Scout at Camp Pendleton.

[@matthewjacobs4882]

Great to see a classic piece of communication equipment. KM4DTH

[@donselbe5812]

I have 3 of these keys acquired from Elmers over the years. All are silent keys now, but still remember the struggle to learn the code.

[@levicaddell1077]

I learned code as a kid on a surplus j38 back in 1962... I paid 50 cents for mine at a laffette electronics store. It still works great. Too bad they don't make them any more.

[@blackopmanners]

I just saw one for sale at my local electronics store...it was $50.00

[@yourshootingbuddy]

Just got my J-38 from Ebay. I have 5 other keyes. This one became my favorite instantly. I too would love to locate some of that cloth covered wire. Great video.

[@eminusipi]

I have on of these. My dad bought it for me in a thrift store for $1.00. The one you have has better alignments of the contacts than mine, front to back and that can't be adjusted.

[@michaelruther9175]

I have one of these, they are wonderful.

[@HugDeeznueces]

I have two of them. Hard to find sometimes. Mine are complete and just need some cleaning. Thanks for the video as I learned quite a bit on how to wired them plus was not aware of the Phillips screws not yet available during that era.

[@ceeller]

Looks like John P. Thompson designed and patented what we now call the Phillips screw in 1932, he sold the rights of the design to Henry Phillips and the rest is, as they say, history. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_F._Phillips

[@michaelruther9175]

Correct great key

[@jamescrofutt8767]

The J-38 was actually mostly a training key, The J-37 was the key that won the war as they say along with all the variants like the J-44 , and several others, The J-37 used a leaf spring and a much better design for combat, 73 J

[@kentk9aee898]

Dave, you can get cloth covered wire from Amazon in various configurations and colors (used for vintage light fixtures). I also found phone tip plugs that were common years ago often used on head phones (Mouser 534-16010). I got both to hook my J-38 to my transmitter. Also you should replace the flat head screws with round head screws when you re-attach your J-38.

[@SteadArcFab_Ministries]

Awesome, I knew someone would post a part number and name ! Thanks

[@genebodenberger]

I have one that I got from my dad a few years back. I mounted it on a piece of African Mahogany. I just need to get into the CW bands more. DE N7ARO

[@MoTown44240]

nice key. I have the Tandy Radio Shack version Dave but it is not as robust as the WWII versions.

[@MrVasile]

Hi Dave. I love this kind of short video in the mix with all of your others! I did have one question about the connection points. It sure looks like the two posts at the rear of the key are electrically connected. Do you connect to those points electrically with the signal wire pair, or is it just mechanical (i.e. feed wire through those posts but leave insulation on)? It seemed pretty clear the the other set of posts (closer to the center of the key) were separate connections to the upper and lower contact points.

[@wb2dx717]

the contact points on a j38 are located under the knob . they look like the old style points on a1960,s era car. the electrical connections are the posts on the far end. the lock bar is just that , it locks the transmit on for using an antenna tuner as in it creates a continuous connection until it is moved to the open position

[@kentk9aee898]

For radio CW work you only use the 2 terminals mounted on the metal base. The 2 terminals and shorting strap were used for hooking into a telegraph line and a sounder or relay. They were also used in code practice classes where headphones were connected to the TEL terminals and the code practice oscillator was hooked to the LINE terminals. Several of these set-ups could be hooked in series for code classes.

[@davecasler]

Kent has it right.

[@eugenecbell]

Kent Eichstaedt, I’m lost. Is there continuity between the two terminals, through the looking bar? I don’t see any evidence of insulators.

[@jimgoldwinger422]

Where can one buy replacement springs?

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

Hi Dave, I hope yr Christmas was nice,..I have been meaning to ask, you have yr walking man, and you often mention use both feet when walking. Can u elaborate what the premise behind, what you refer. Im sure it is interesting.

[@davecasler]

I used to give my kids all sorts of useless advice as they went out the door to school. "Use both feet when walking" was one of my reminders. The walking man came from something I found on openclipart.org and colored in one frame at a time. I just throw it in at the end of the video--it gives viewers some fun to keep seeing it.

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

@@davecasler thx Dave, yr an interesting guy. I have 4 of my own. 73s tbp

[@dmkays]

I have been using my J-38 for 45 years. The gap on the key in the video is set for sloppy code. To send perfectly timed code you want the gap as small as possible and send with your index fingertip on the key press your thumb and middle fingers lightly pressing both sides so you pull the key up to break the dots and dahs. I can cruise along at 26 to 28 wpm for hours with no fatigue. If sending tires your hand then you are working too hard.

[@arrrgoyle5695]

You mentioned the key needs cleaning. How does one clean such and other old radio parts?

[@davecasler]

A lot of people use Deoxit D5 as a cleaner for electrical contacts. (I did a video on that awhile back.) Regarding the key itself, simply washing with soap and water is about all that is recommended. The patina of age is part of the charm of the key. (Coin collectors say the same thing.)

[@VanishingNomad]

My favorite key! The design was originally for the railroad, no?

[@davecasler]

The basic design, yes. The J-38 was designed specifically for the military.

[@tommybewick]

They were put in series not for the railroad but when they were used in training for the Signal Corp. in their training sets. See : k6ix.net/J38Keys.html

[@davecasler]

True. This is a military key. But it's based on an old key design from the late 1800s that was widely used in landline telegraph and in railroad telegraphy.

[@michaelhernandez7192]

have a j-38 want to sell it if anyone wants one i got one let me know

[@eugenecbell]

I’m in the market for a J-38.

[@kevinj8258]

Dont clean it!! Just fix contact functional surfaces only. All antique equipment should maintain historic patina. My advice taken from antique firearms world.

[@RollerCam]

There were hundreds of thousands of these made and many are still available for a few dollars, so collector value will likely always be small. I restored mine completely and really enjoy seeing it on my desk with it's perfectly polished brass.