05/13/2026
Around 1942, Paul Dow began manufacturing Morse bugs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Paul Dow believed operators deserved something more comfortable and adjustable.
His first major design became known as the “Bent Key,” a distinctive semi-automatic bug with its frame mounted at an angle to provide a more natural wrist and hand position. Although innovative, the angle itself remained fixed and could not be tailored to individual preference. Paul Dow continued refining the idea, and by 1949 he patented the Universal “Rotary” Speed Key, one of the most mechanically unique bugs ever produced. Unlike traditional bugs, the Universal allowed the entire lever assembly, k**b, and paddle to rotate left or right from vertical.
Among the most desirable versions was the Deluxe Universal model, produced around 1951. Manufactured in Winnipeg, this Deluxe version featured a polished chrome base and refined second-generation construction. In this improved design, the damper was mounted directly to the base rather than the rotating frame, helping provide smoother action and more stable high-speed performance.
Innovation in amateur radio often came from individual operators determined to improve the art of communication itself.
