I've been following a number of code keys and other gizmos on eBay, but man, prices on some of this stuff have quickly kicked my buying hopes to the cyberspace curb.
Not that I'm in the market to drop a bundle on eBay goodies …. I'm trying to hold back some cash for the Cave City Hamfest. There were some good deals to be had for certain … let's look at some of the high-end keys and the rest of the group so far tonight.
JRC Bug, $898. I only have a couple of Japanese keys, all the Hi-Mound variety. I wasn't aware of rarity of some Japanese bugs, particularly this JRC key. The listing said that bugs weren't popular among the maritime Japanese radio officers because using them was seen as a sign of laziness, thus demand wasn't high. I don't know when this key was produced, but its a fairly nice looking piece. Pricey one, too.
1940 McElroy Model 600, $382. This key is the carryover of the last of the Mac Keys. The Model 600 is identical to the 1939 Mac Key with the exception of the ID plate. This key has two small decals on it to identify it as a McElroy key, one on the pivot frame and one on the base where the large McElroy ID plate would normally be. This auction included a case with this key, which is something I've never seen with a McElroy key. I don't know if this was a McElroy case or something adapted to fit the key. Collectors noticed this auction, judging from the final bid!
1938 McElroy Mac Key DeLuxe, $247.50. An excellent as-found condition key. It is missing the round finger knob, and needs a good cleaning and polishing. This key has the dot stabilizer. Other than dirt, it looks very good. I was watching this key, but the price was well past my budget, selling for $247.50. My recently acquired Mac Key of the same vintage was much less costly, and I don't need another one for a lot more money. Still a very nice key for anyone's collection (having duplicates never stopped me before, but money has, hi!)
TAC “Hole In The Wall” DeLuxe bug, $132.09. This key was produced in the late 1940s and early 1950s by the Telegraph Apparatus Co. of Chicago, a joint effort between Ted McElroy and the Hallicrafters Co. I have 2 of these keys, both deluxe models with chrome plated bases. The “hole in the wall” nickname comes from the pivot frame, which is basically a rectangular plate with a round hole in the middle. The keying lever is suspended between pivot adjustments in the hole. This key was in excellent shape and brought a fair price at $132.09. While reading a late 1940s QST, I noticed a Hallicrafters receiver print ad featured the TAC deluxe bug sitting between the receiver and transmitter — I'm betting this product placement was no accident.
Eddystone S689 Bug, $210. The Eddystone is a relatively rare key that was produced in low numbers in the U.K. I consider this to be one of the sleekest keys I've ever seen. They aren't much to look at without the cover, but the rounded domed cover really makes the key unusual. I would love to own one, but this key is one very collectible key that brings top dollar. I'll keep it on my wish list, but I'm not holding my breath I'll find a bargain anytime soon.
OUT OF THE STRATOSPHERE. Fortunately there were a number of keys that were fairly good deals. These include:
1950 Vibroplex Original DeLuxe. At $67, this was a fair price for this original condition key. The chrome on the base showed wear and some minor rust. The rest of the key looked excellent — this key would have been a fantastic way for someone to pick up a great key at a bargain price. The DeLuxe model has the jeweled movements, and that alone was worth the money. A replacement base is still available from Vibroplex, and you could wind up with a brand-new vintage key for less than half the price of a new one.
1950 Vibroplex Carrying Case, $36. The seller of the above key sold the case separately, and it only brought $36. I figured this case would sell for twice that, so I didn't bother watching it closely. I would have paid that much for it had I known it wouldn't max out in the eBay strato-bucks. A nice buy.
1920 Vibroplex Junior, $105. The Junior was Vibroplex's answer to the need for a low-priced key. The Junior was identical to the Original, but the base was 1/2-inch narrower (3 inches vs. 3-1/2 inches). In a 1936 QST ad, the Junior model was available (black japanned base only) for $10; the Vibroplex Original was $17, or $19 with a nickel-plated base. The No. 6 Vibroplex (also known as the Lightning Bug) was the same price as the Original. The Junior was available from about 1920 through the late 1930s, and was only sporadically advertised as a separate model. This key is in as-found condition, and not bad at that. It sold for $105.
1979 Vibroplex Presentation. For $129.50, this was quite a bargain. The gold-plated brass plate that tops the base on these keys is usually the problem area, and this one looked very good. The gold is very, very thin, so any repeated wear goes right through it. Overall, the key looked very, very nice and was complete. It was ready to go on the air right out of the box.
Vibroplex Square Racer DeLuxe. $109. A nearly new key at a good price. I like the square shape better than the triangular one of the Brass Racer. Otherwise, their operation is identical. I'm not that interested in another iambic key, so I passed on this one.
Early Les Logan Speed-X bug. $86. This key is rather rare, but it excellent condition. The pivot frame is unique, putting the pivot out in “front” of the main part of the frame. These early Speed-X keys had no nameplates or other IDs. I have two of these, one like this one but in very poor condition, and a narrow-base version in near mint condition. The Speed-x heritage is evident in the damper and the knurling on the adjustments and lock nuts. This key probably isn't on the collectors Top 10, but its certainly not very common.
1972 Vibroplex Champion. $82. A good price for a solid, complete key. This still is a higher price than this key brought 6 months ago, but it indicates greater demand for the keys. For a mode that won't be a part of Amateur Radio licensing in less than a week, the surge in interest in keys is interesting — though probably unrelated to rules changes. It's probably because people are stuck inside spending too much time (and money) on eBay, hi!
NET FINE DESPITE CONTEST. The ARRL International DX contest was in full swing today, and I spent time tuning the bands, trying to find guys on the “slow” side (i.e., under 35 wpm) in order to practice copying higher speed CW. The DX test is good too because the exchange is fairly simple. For stateside contacts, its simply their call, report and state. For DX contacts, its call, report and power. I enjoyed working on my CW, but some of it was simply a blur. Was that an H or a 5? Dunno, spin the dial, quick!
The contest wasn't too tough on the KSN this evening. Frank, KB4UJA was NCS, and he was S9 plus 10. I'm soooo spoiled with the Icom's filtering, it's amazing how well you can make the nearby sigs nearly disappear. It wasn't too crowded around the net frequency, but only myself and a couple others checked in. Due to the low turnout, Frank took time to rag chew a bit with us before we checked out.
That's it for tonight .. 73 es GN … de KY4Z SK …. dit dit ….