That's strange Ron because I was taught to keep my arm off the desk by my father who was trained in the Marines for his duty as a radioman on B-17s and B-24s in just this fashion. I have tried sending with my arm on the desk and it tires me rapidly. He trained me around 1965 and thought nothing of it. I guess there just wasn't that much room between the wings on those bombers for his desk.
Kevin. KD5ONS
-----Original Message-----
>From: Ron D'Eau Claire <
[hidden email]>
>Sent: Aug 7, 2009 8:09 PM
>To: 'David Cutter' <
[hidden email]>, 'Ken Kopp' <
[hidden email]>,
[hidden email]
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Off-Topic - Straight-key speed cpontrol
>
>Ha, ha David. We're separated by more than a "common language"!
>
>The first time I saw the form of sending you describe with the arm in
>mid-air was about 10 years ago and I was astounded!
>
>Here in the USA since the the military and so civilian services taught
>everyone to lay their arm on the desk as Ken described. That goes back to,
>at least, the mid 1930's. That's how I've always used a straight key.
>
>I visited a buddy in Holland for the first time a few years ago and took
>with me as a gift a nice straight key. He immediately put it on the edge of
>his desk and wailed away on it with his arm in the air. My jaw dropped.
>
>We did do that here but only in mobile units where the key was strapped to
>one leg. In that use we also cranked the spring tension down much tighter
>than normal when the key was on the desk.
>
>Ron AC7AC
>
>-----Original Message-----
>"The elbow should rest on the desk and the fingers on the key's knob. "
>
>I couldn't disagree more! I have always taught as I was taught that the key
>
>is at the edge of the desk and no part of your body touches the desk, except
>
>perhaps the other hand. The forearm should be horizontal, sit up straight
>and relax the shoulders. It's very similar to typing. The telegraphers of
>old had to send for hours and this is the way they did it; I was one once.
>
>73
>
>David
>G3UNA
>
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