Pietro Begali makes some of the finest keys available today. This is the Magnetic Classic, serial # 014 which is edged on the top of the base. I have made finger pieces for it from African blackwood, sometimes called ebony.

Alberto Frattini makes outstanding paddles and keys. They look like a jewel and operate very well.

The collapsible Palm paddle, shown here with custom finger pieces from African blackwood, is hard to beat for portable work.

The paddle was made by Valery Pavlov, RA1AOM, of St. Petersburg, Russia. The pivots are simple trunions, but very well made. The base is exotic mineral, probably Jasper, from the Carpathian Mountains.

I offered Pietro a few suggestions for the Magnetic such as a jack instead of a dangling cord, locknut free posts, and he incorporated them into his Signature model. This one is serial # 003, and I made finger pieces from old ivory for it. It is my paddle of choice. today i retain only the two Begali paddles. All others were sold.

Shown with hand made fossil mammoth ivory finger pieces, Stan's paddle remains the standard by which all others are measured.

G4ZPY refined and improved the Bencher version of the 1963 W8FYO design. Here it is shown with finger pieces fashioned from soapstone.