My father WB2JIA (silent key) used this to practice code, along with a paper tape machine that played tape with long or short holes cut into it, for the dahs and dits.

This oscillator was a "hot chassis" design. Yes, the screw terminals connected directly to the powerline! One of the tubes was a rectifier, the other the oscillator.

Cool I'm making the single tube oscillator straight out of the 1951 ARRL handbook (page 15).
It wants 22.5 Volts, and 1.5 Volts DC which my supply can provide.
I have a vintage "beginners key" but am getting a serious one in the next couple of weeks.
VK4FAST.

I've never seen a four letter callsign before. What class of licence is that for?

What class of licence is that for?

http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/about/.

Looks like they are just about out of available two letter callsigns and have made four letter ones available. They reckon in the eastern states one has to go into a ballot for a two letter callsign now (for those that qualify for one).

I guess the removal of the requirement to be proficient at Morse Code has encouraged more and more to apply for licences.

I guess the removal of the requirement to be proficient at Morse Code has encouraged more and more to apply for licences.

A foundation class licence is not particularly difficult to obtain. Its introduction was part of a move by the WIA to rebuild interest in amateur radio among young people in particular.

Yes there are plenty of 3 letter suffixes, but someone has to be lost to get their two letter in Aus.
If a family member's call becomes available, family members are supposed to have a year to claim it before it goes back in the pool.

Morse is completely abandoned from all three levels of testing other than having to know what Morse is, and what segments are allocated for it.
Funny enough this has resulted in a massive resurgence!

I'm due to sit the standard test in November.

I got my first amateur radio licence in 1965 when you had to pass a City and Guilds exam.
No multiple choice, question might be for example:

Design, and explain the operation of, a CW/MCW transmitter capable of operation in the 80metre band, and explain how spurious transmissions may be avoided. (time allowed 1 1/2 hours)

or: In 500 words explain the operation of the ....(would be a cct diagram of some piece of RX/Tx equipment) (time allowed 1/2 hour)

Probably about 12 - 15 questions, including licence conditions, regulations, antennae design, plenty of maths questions (dc and ac theory), valve and transistor theory and so on.

Follow that with 12 wpm morse test conducted by inspectors from HM Customs.

Lucky for me I was doing a 9 month radio technician course in Royal Signals at the same time.

You felt you had earned an amateur licence in those days!

I'd take on your first example with modern components, and VK4FAST was a pre-commitment to Morse ;)
I must admit I've been slack, but my practice key is difficult to use.. not to long to wait for the proper one now though.

I picked this puppy up yesterday from 1984. The aim was to get one of the first digital rigs.
It's a cracker the way they tried to simulate an analogue dial on the lower VFD there.. I love it
My current key is just in the shot there.

Image Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv4Lz3IZIHs.