The camelback shape for a straight key dates back over 150 years. Charles Chubbock in 1848, Thomas Hall, and Chester Brothers in New York produced some of the earliest keys with that characteristic "hump". The Begali Camelback Straight Key was inspired by the beauty of that shape, although it does not try to replicate any of the classic designs (unlike the Begali Postal Key, which is a faithful replica of a classic key of about the same era as the earliest camelbacks).

Most old camelback designs have the hump located in front of the pivot to shift the mass more towards the knob. The Begali Camelback design puts the hump right at the pivot for a very elegant fluid design. The base of this key is made by melting and casting phosphatized iron. As a result, no two bases will be identical, even though the overall shape and dimensions are ensured by the mold. A rough, uneven surface with individual patterns is characteristic of this process.

The Begali Camelback shares this same heavy cast iron base as the Postal Key - about 3.5 pounds - which lets it sit rock steady at your operating position. All other parts are gold plated for corrosion resistance and a finish of timeless beauty, and the contacts are 925/1000 Sterling Silver. One unique aspect of our design is the use of precision bearings as well as the placement of the spring behind and very close to the pivot. With most of the moving mass in front of the spring, effortless keying is possible, even at high speeds. Although it ‘looks the part,’ this key, is anything but old fashioned – it is based on ergonomic and dynamic principles that are thoroughly modern. Whatever your keying style and ability is, you will find that this key can be adjusted to bring out your full potential. Even if your fist goes a bit QLF over the years, the Begali Camelback Straight Key still makes a beautiful statement in your showcase.