The Number Four, later known as Blue Racer, is from the first year of production, 1914. Serial # B1421, it had been repainted, gold if you please, in the nineteen-fifties. No one wanted it. It was a tough one to take apart, and to remove the old paint. Finally, done I restored it with 24 coats of deep blue lacquer.

No doubt my finish is better than the original ones, but the color is close, and it is a very pretty and well operating key. My friend, Stan, W5ZF, visited, saw it, and just had to have it. He uses it proudly, and when not in use, it has the place of honor displayed in his shack.

Status: Common. The before picture: This Blue Racer was rescued following a house fire. It was scorched and sooted, the feet and finger pieces melted. But the base black Japanned finish proved to be fine and all the parts were there.

A thorough cleaning, polsihing, then restoration of the gold lines brought it back. I made finger pieces from African blackwood, and returned it to its proud owner, Mori, KR5V, who uses it regularly.