My wife would accuse me of finding every minute of every day as “the perfect time to peruse eBay,” so my headline is probably meaningless to her. But now that the mad rush of auctions that ended this weekend is over, I'm going to highlight some that I watched, and lots of “almost boughts” … some I decided not to bid on, some I lost out because I didn't want to bid higher, and a couple I actually won.
KEYS THAT SOLD
1956 Vibroplex Original SN# 195372. This key was damaged and in a couple of pieces. Nothing major however. The gray-based key otherwise was in good shape and complete (save for the broken plastic thumb piece). The damper being loose is suspicious; the seller said the screw he had was now too short. The key had been dropped, so I wondered about other damage to the damper. Bidding was low on this key until the final few minutes. Sold for $67.99, not a bad price for the key, but more than I was willing to pay for yet another grey-base Vibroplex. For someone who didn't own a bug, it was a decent price.
1930s “Cedar Rapids Bug.” While I have several of these already, the bidding on this one was very, 
very low. Pros: Mostly complete with original hardware. Cons: Missing the weights, and someone added a third terminal in order to make the key a single-lever paddle for use with a keyer. Metal had been stripped of paint. A workable bug for the selling price of $32.99.
1940 Vibroplex Original DeLuxe SN# 114474. This key was complete with carrying case. The original finger pieces had been replaced with plexiglass or lucite paddles. The rest of the key was original. The base showed typical wear and pitting for its age, the upper parts looked excellent. This key was a sleeper because the case was was buried in the auction text. Replacement paddles are about $8. This key was a bargain at $61. Again, one I watched but passed by.
EF Johson Speed-X 114-321. This is the large all chrome-plated rectangular based key sold by EF 
Johnson under the Speed-X brand. The key comes with the original box and the paperwork. I have several Speed-X keys, but not this model. The chrome based key is one I've always wanted, and this one was worth the money. SKN 2007, here I come.
1968 Vibroplex Presentation SN# 255931. The original weights on this key were replaced by a hunk of brass of larger size. The rest of the key looks original and in good (albeit dirty) condition. The Presentation was unique because of the adjustable mainspring. The Presentation then was its own model; today its just a trim 
level offered of the Original. I only have one Presentation key, and don't hunger for another. On used Presentations the very thin gold plating on the top plate usually shows wear. It's a brushed kind of satin gold finish, and very prone to damage. You seldom find one without damage or wear today, and replacing that plate ain't cheap — $70 at last look. This key brought a hefty price — $142.50. The uniqueness of the Presentation is the adjustable mainspring, and this is one reason used ones sell so high. Probably a good price, but not of interest to me.
Vibroplex Carrying Case. This case is in very good condition, and as a result it brought a very good 
price — $97. I've seen them sell for half that, which I think is still too high. A year ago you could pick them up for $40 or less, but that was then, this is now. Is it just me or is there a resurgence of interest in CW? Advice to Vibroplex: Bring back the wooden leaterette covered carrying cases!
1919 Vibroplex Model “X” SN 69,XXX. Man, what a nice bug! I don't have one of these Model X bugs in my collection. They're not as common as they were only produced 1911-1923. The goal of the Model X was 
to have a key with just one contact; the X used the same contact for dits and dahs. I've heard varying descriptions of how well the key worked. Obviously it didn't survive the competition within the company. The key isn't mint, but is functional. This is the sort of key you probably keep in as-found condition and thank your lucky stars you have it in your collection. It sold for $280, which was far beyond my budget. An interesting key nonetheless.
1963 Vibroplex Lightning Bug DeLuxe. Wow, what a pretty key, and in mint condition too. This is 
another model key (particularly the deluxe version) that's very popular with collectors. The only drawback to this key is the original owner's callsign engraved on the base. That's not so bad, it just gives it some history.Key collectors love to have some documented history about any key the own, so that's not a problem. It would be a beautiful key to have in the shack. This one brought $162.50 — a premium price to be sure.
Lionel J-36 WWII bug. Wow, you want to talk bargains? How about a complete — with wedge cord — WWII J-36 key (a wartime version of the Vibroplex Lightning Bug produced under license by the Lionel company) for $44.78? These keys often show a good bit of wear and shack rash, but they're usually excellent bargains. I bought two of them in one auction for $25 a couple years ago — both cleaned up and are near mint examples. I nearly bought this one simply because it was cheap, but common sense prevailed.
Vibroplex Signal Corps J-36. This key was built by Vibroplex for the Signal Corps in 1943. It was in excellent condition and sold for a paltry $46. This one has the Signal Corps ID plate on it, and had I been watching it more closely, I would have pursued this key. I don't have the Signal Corps version. Another eBay sleeper bargain … or maybe I was the one sleeping, otherwise I would have bid on it.
EF Johnson Speed-X 114-520 bug. This is the run-of-the-mill late model Speed-X bug sold in the 
1950s. This example is in mint condition, truly in as-new condition. These aren't bad bugs to operate, they're very dependable keys (unless the pivot frame gets shattered in shipping). This brought a mint price too — $129. I own a couple of these and wouldn't buy one at that price no matter the condition … well, that depends on if the original box is there too … hi hi.
1960 Vibroplex Original DeLuxe. This key is as clean a 47-year-old key as you can find. The chrome looks clear and sharp, and all the parts are there. Not a bad deal for $113.61.
1942 Vibroplex Lightning Bug. This is an original condition key that's complete and functional. This was another eBay bargain that sold for $75.
1954 Vibroplex Lightning Bug. This gray-based bug has perfect chrome parts. Base looks very good. Another good buy at $71.
1919 Vibroplex Original. A very nice original key with carry case — again, another listing that buried this 
fact in the text. This key had to work for a living, so it shows wear, but not abuse. Some SOB trying to get the key on the cheap told him the serial number had been misread — the key wasn't that old, it was made in 1948 not 1919. It's amazing how people will try to low-ball sellers who may not know what they have in their hands, particularl when a very desireable key shows up. This one sold for a decent price, $130.
That's a run down of some of the auctions I was watching. Some nice keys for certain.
That's all from this end for now … 73 es CUL … de KY4Z SK …. dit dit …..