Status: RARE. Nineteen known. This key launched my interest in key collecting. It appeared on the cover of Morsum Magnificat in, I believe, 1993. It made clear to me that even after nearly 40 years of telegraphy, I had seen few of the different keys that had been made. For years I tried to find one of these by asking Canadian telegraphers to look for one for me. How little I knew. Apparently this odd key was never put in production. It was an experiment leading to the rotational Dow key. It was some time later that I learned only 19 were known to collectors, and half of those were in Dow family hands as keepsakes.

It was sheer good fortune that I was to come by this key, maybe the very key pictured on the cover of Morsum Magnificat. This key came from the famous Murray Willer collection. It was probably made especially for him. Murray liked to keep his keys polished and patina free, which would not have been my choice. With the vibrating lever tilted 15 degrees, the key has a predilection for making split-dits. I tried and tried to find an adjustment to eliminate them, but to no avail. Since I am not a collector who looks at his keys, but a telegrapher who uses his keys, I eventually and reluctantly traded it away to a collector who wanted it more.

I was filled with remorse letting go of that rare key. One day out of the blue I was contacted by an elderly Canadian collector who knew of my interest and offered another of the nineteen known Bent Dows! I was stunned. And I accepted.

This key had been used, has wonderful patina, two weights, a perfect joy to any collector!

I soon adjusted it, mounted a jack, and put it on the air.

For what ever reason, this specimen does not have the split dit problem. With two weights, it slows down as much as desired. It has a very pleasant and easy feel. I am very proud to return to membership in that exclusive club of Bent Dow owners!