‰  NOW 25 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM MAY 2019  QST  PAGE 82 ‰

KEY IS A SMALL MASTERPIECE OF 1930S INDUSTRIAL DESIGN.  ITS CONTOURED
SURFACES, POLISHED CHROME OR BLACK WRINKLE BASE, AND CHROME FITTINGS MAKE
IT AT HOME WITH THE STYLING TREND OF MODERNIST STREAMLINING THAT FLOURISHED
AT THE TIME.  ELEMENTS THAT MAKE THE STREAM KEY STRIKING TO THE EYE ARE
ALSO INTEGRAL TO THE WAY IT WORKS.  IT HAS TWICE THE MASS OF MOST KEYS OF
THE PERIOD, DISTRIBUTED OVER A LONG, BROAD FOOTPRINT.  THE TOE OF THE BASE
EXTENDS WELL FORWARD, PAST THE CONTACT ANVIL AND JUST UNDER THE EDGE OF THE
KNOB.  THE RESULT IS A KEY THAT STAYS FIRMLY PLANTED, FEELING VERY SOLID IN
USE.  MAC STREAM KEYS  MCELROY MANUFACTURED MAC STREAM KEYS FOR ONLY 6
YEARS, FROM 1938 1943.  THE ORIGINAL VERSION WAS SOMEWHAT LIKE A FLAT IRON
TEARDROP SHAPED, WITH PERPENDICULAR SIDES AND A FLATTENED TOP THAT DROPPED
TO THE FRONT OF THE KEY.  IT CAME IN CHROME AND WRINKLED FINISHES, THE
FORMER WITH A TRIANGULAR NAME PLATE AFFIXED TO THE FRONT.  THE BEST OF THEM
‰  END OF 25 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ