I've been cruising a little bit around on eBay tonight before bed. I have my standard searches I perform, just to see what might be out there newly listed.
Tonight I spotted an eBay listing for one of my least favorite Vibroplex keys, the Vibrokeyer. As someone who moved from a straight key to iambic paddles, the single lever keyer just has no appeal at all. I own one Vibrokeyer, and it's identical to the one in the photo on this page.
I can send with it just fine, but if I'm going to use a single lever key, I'll just use a bug. Admittedly, I probably send better with a Vibrokeyer since the electronics improve my timing and keying. It took a while to get the hang of a single lever keyer. For some reason, the tactile feel of the bug made it actually easier to use than the Vibrokeyer.
The key in the photo is a 1967 key. Nothing rare or unusual about it; in fact, it shows considerably more wear than the one I have. Now what is a plain vanilla, non-collectible Vibrokeyer bringing on eBay? With 4-1/2 days to go in the auction, this one is already at $102.50. That's way more than its worth, but I can't complain. I've been in those “gotta-have-it” moods myself.
The new Vibrokeyers are much, much more attractive these days. The Standard model has a black wrinkle painted finish, and the ID tag placement is centered. It just looks more balanced, even if its the same key. Any color other than that putrid salmon color is an improvement.
I've chased several Vibrokeyers in recent past eBay auctions. I don't know why, but I find the DeLuxe version of this key much more attractive. It's the chrome, that's what it is. I attribute that to my early love of classic cars and chrome. I guess if Vibroplex offered a key with fins and fuzzy dice, I would be all over that as well. How about “The Chevroplex”, offered in several trim models … the Bel Air, the Biscayne, the Impala and the SuperSport. Make mine a 1955 model, please!
The Vibrokeyer also comes in a gold plated base finish. I'm betting they don't sell many of those annually. It's not the cost, I just don't know how many people find the Vibrokeyer the answer to their CW needs.
I guess I shouldn't discount the Vibrokeyer, considering all the butchered bugs I've seen that were converted to operate basically as single lever paddles. I have to believe that the popularity of the iambic paddle starting in the 1960s had to eventually surpass that of a single lever key.
Another Vibroplex key I've chased lately is the Vibroplex Iambic DeLuxe key. It's their chrome base version of their iambic offering. It's not a bad key, either. It retains that classic Vibroplex styling, and it holds adjustment well. I have an older Standard version with the dark grey base, and I have found it to be an very nice key. Pricey, but nice.
Of course, the key I've used for the past few months more often than not is my old reliable 1930s Les Logan Speed-X 500 t-bar bug. It's got its chips in the finish, but of all the keys I own, this one is a good “fit.” I'm not real crazy about the Speed-X damper, it really doesn't have enough mass to do much dampening. It's just a matter of getting comfortable with the key. The faster you run it the less of a problem that becomes.
Speaking of CW, a field test of the ARRL's new CW proficiency program is underway. The closest test site is in Lexington. It's modeled after the ARRL's own on-air CW runs sent by W1AW. Copy a minute of code and you can earn a certificate, and also endorsements as your speeds increase. It's an interesting idea. I think I could actually copy faster code at home in the comfort of my own shack. I suspect the program will be adopted, provided its not a financial burden. The fees for certificates will likely make it self-supporting. I don't know if every ARRL VE team will conduct the proficiency tests, I'm sure that's one of the details to be ironed out if it is approved.
While I'm on the topic of single lever keys (and the fact that some Vibrokeyer models aren't my first choice in this category), I'll say one of my favorite single lever keys is the Autronic keyer manufactured the Electrophysics Corporation in Newport Beach, Calif. Again, the shape is unusual, and the mechanism just plays very well. I found the key an odd-looking duck, but after dialing it in, I found it to be a real sweetheart. The key has very classic styling, almost like something you would see Dean Martin use in one of his Matt Helm James Bond-type films. Even the spy who gets the chicks needs a sexy CW key.
That's it for this installment … 73 es GN … de KY4Z … dit dit …