Dow-Key Microwave
Encyclopedia
Dow-Key Microwave Corporation is the oldest continuously operational RF and Microwave switch manufacturer in the United States and today is the world's largest manufacturer of RF electro-mechanical
switches and Microwave Sub-Systems. The company is part of the Microwave Products Group and Dover Electronics, a subsidiary of Dover Corporation
and it is located in Ventura, California
, USA.
1945 - 1951 - Starts manufacturing the first commercial telegraphic speed key called "Bent" Dow, that later was evolved into a Dow-Key Bug.
September 6, 1949 Patent 2,481,091 issued for Dow Universal (rotary model).
1956 Paul Dow retired. Dow-Key operated by his son, Gordon Dow, which concentrates on development of other switching equipment in area automatic switching.
December 1957 Dow-Key operation moved to Thief River Falls, Minnesota
. Speed keys no longer produced.
December 1960 product evolves into a new Dow "KEY-municator" - transistorized telegraphic key sold as part of amateur radio
kits.
1966 Dow-Key operation moved to Broomfield, Colorado
.
In 1968 Dow-Key was purchased by Kilovac Corporation, a high voltage
relay manufacturer, and relocated to Kilovac's Headquarters in Carpinteria, California
. The company quickly became an industry leader in the manufacture of low frequency
and high frequency
(HF, UHF and VHF). microwave switching products.
In 1985, Dow-Key was purchased from Kilovac by a private investor who moved the company to its current location (Ventura, Caliofornia) in 1988 and incorporated under the name Dow-Key Microwave. Dow-Key improves its quality leading to High Reliability space qualified products in 1989. In 1993, it acquired the High Reliability switch line from Datron (Transco Products, Inc.).
In 1995, Dow-Key was acquired by Dover Technologies. The acquisition united the Dow-Key, K&L Microwave, and Transco switch product lines to create the largest electro-mechanical switch manufacturer in the world. Recent developments include new steps in areas of MEMS, PXI and LSI automation along with general microwave communication applications.
Electromechanics
In engineering, electromechanics combines the sciences of electromagnetism, of electrical engineering and mechanics. Mechanical engineering in this context refers to the larger discipline which includes chemical engineering, and other related disciplines. Electrical engineering in this context...
switches and Microwave Sub-Systems. The company is part of the Microwave Products Group and Dover Electronics, a subsidiary of Dover Corporation
Dover Corporation
Dover Corporation is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment within six segments. Dover Corporation is based in Downers Grove, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The company relocated its headquarters from New York in mid-2010.-History: can trace...
and it is located in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, USA.
History
1942 or 1943 Paul Dow starts making speed keys in the basement of his house in Winnipeg at 578 Goulding Street, Canada. The first models were called "Junior".1945 - 1951 - Starts manufacturing the first commercial telegraphic speed key called "Bent" Dow, that later was evolved into a Dow-Key Bug.
September 6, 1949 Patent 2,481,091 issued for Dow Universal (rotary model).
1956 Paul Dow retired. Dow-Key operated by his son, Gordon Dow, which concentrates on development of other switching equipment in area automatic switching.
December 1957 Dow-Key operation moved to Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,410 people, 3,619 households, and 2,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,760.0 people per square mile . There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile...
. Speed keys no longer produced.
December 1960 product evolves into a new Dow "KEY-municator" - transistorized telegraphic key sold as part of amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
kits.
1966 Dow-Key operation moved to Broomfield, Colorado
Broomfield, Colorado
The City and County of Broomfield is a prominent suburb and tier of the Denver metropolitan area in the State of Colorado of the United States. Broomfield has a consolidated city and county government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The...
.
In 1968 Dow-Key was purchased by Kilovac Corporation, a high voltage
High voltage
The term high voltage characterizes electrical circuits in which the voltage used is the cause of particular safety concerns and insulation requirements...
relay manufacturer, and relocated to Kilovac's Headquarters in Carpinteria, California
Carpinteria, California
Carpinteria is a small oceanside city located in southeastern Santa Barbara County, California, east of Santa Barbara and northwest of Ventura. The population was 13,040 at the 2010 census, down from 14,194 at the 2000 census....
. The company quickly became an industry leader in the manufacture of low frequency
Low frequency
Low frequency or low freq or LF refers to radio frequencies in the range of 30 kHz–300 kHz. In Europe, and parts of Northern Africa and of Asia, part of the LF spectrum is used for AM broadcasting as the longwave band. In the western hemisphere, its main use is for aircraft beacon,...
and high frequency
High frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
(HF, UHF and VHF). microwave switching products.
In 1985, Dow-Key was purchased from Kilovac by a private investor who moved the company to its current location (Ventura, Caliofornia) in 1988 and incorporated under the name Dow-Key Microwave. Dow-Key improves its quality leading to High Reliability space qualified products in 1989. In 1993, it acquired the High Reliability switch line from Datron (Transco Products, Inc.).
In 1995, Dow-Key was acquired by Dover Technologies. The acquisition united the Dow-Key, K&L Microwave, and Transco switch product lines to create the largest electro-mechanical switch manufacturer in the world. Recent developments include new steps in areas of MEMS, PXI and LSI automation along with general microwave communication applications.