Last night while browsing eBay, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
While poking through the just-listed files, I ran across a listing for one of the VERY FIRST Vibroplex keys produced by Horace G. Martin!
The listing name was classic understatement: “Old Horace Martin Vibroplex key in need of some TLC.” I don't know if the guy didn't know what he had, or if he was just pretending to in order to drive key collectors crazy.
Judging from what I've read about Vibroplex keys, this one was manufactured very, very early — say the first year, 1904, or maybe 1905. This key has no serial number, which is indicative that it likely is a first-year key.
This ID tag on the early keys prominently proclaims this key as “The Vibroplex” (the key came before there was a company by the name); Martin had created the “Autoplex” key a couple of years earlier, so it was only fitting that he capitalize on the “-plex” suffix for his new key. His keys were simply the “Martin Autoplex” and the “Martin Vibroplex.”
At any rate, it's pretty exciting to see this rare a key show up for sale. The funny part? The highest bid right now is $10!
Seems that on the rarest of the rare, NO ONE enters a bid. For the real collectibles, sniping is the order of the day, and the biggest pocketbook wins. I'm predicting the bidding for this key will easily pass $2,000 — in the last 30 seconds before the auction period ends.
When rare keys show up on eBay, it's amazing how many buyers try to get the seller to knock the key off to them early, and I'm sure this guy is getting requests for the same — despite the note in the listing that he won't end the auction early.
The key is in “as-found” original condition, and for a 102-year-old bug, it's in pretty good shape. It would appreciate in value you even if you bought it and did nothing more than tuck it away in a safe place. I don't think I would do that, I would have to run the key!
SPEAKING OF KEYS. Yes, when it comes to speaking generally of semi-automatic bugs, I'm generally speaking …. I ran across another mislabeled key for sale which resulted in a bargain-priced purchase, or what I believe will be (the postman will bring me the final answer on that question).
The key is a Les Logan Speed-x Model 501 DeLuxe model. This is the t-bar Les Logan bug with the chrome plated base as shown in the photo. I'm just a sucker for these Les Logan bugs, I don't know why.
For quite some time, they just never showed up on eBay; when they did, they commanded higher prices that Vibroplex bugs of the same era.
The Les Logan bugs aren't as common, and are distinctive looking. The Mac Keys I love so well are distinctive to the point of ugly, but the Les Logan are among the nicest looking keys I own.
I'm still working on the new damper for the Les Logan cast-off bug I bought a month or so back. Of course, somone just listed today an auction on eBay for some Les Logan bug parts — including the complete damper assembly that I would like to have. I'll watch that auction carefully. I can't make a damper that will look as good as an original if I can get one.
I've got more key news, but I'm holding it for later. I tried to check in on KSN tonight, but the band was terrible. Willis, AD4DX, was NCS, and he was inaudible about 40 percent of the time. I tried every trick in the 746PRO's aresenal of tricks to get better copy, but sometimes you have to accept the fact you can't polish a turd: Garbage in, garbage out. The NCS signal was too low on fades, and I wondered if he would hear me. Maybe tomorrow night.
73 es GUD LUCK …. de KY4Z SK …. dit dit ….