The Vibroplex and Other Keys on Ships, Aircraft, and at Coastal Radio Stations

merican radiotelegraphers were the first to popularize using a Vibroplex® in commercial applications. The UK General Post Office, which ran the coast stations of Ireland and the United Kingdom, actually prohibited all “speed keys,” but around the 1970s, these regulations were relaxed and I’d hear keyers and semi-automatic keys on from the UK commercial stations. However, the UK operators took deserved pride in their use of the straight key, and they mostly used “pump handle keys,” that is the ones with contacts at the back of the key after the pivoting fulcrum. The PS-213A was