I've been holding off on eBay purchases (somewhat) and focusing more on finding things I need … like parts.
I recently picked up a well-worn but nearly complete Vibroplex Champion. It was missing the dash contact post, otherwise it was in decent shape. The metal parts were dirty but cleaned up very, very nicely. I've gone ahead and disassembled the Champion, transferring its parts over to other keys. For example, some of the parts went to a Vibroplex Zephyr that was in need of them, some others went to a Lightning Bug, and the rest is going into my parts bin. The ID plate from this key will probably wind up on that Lightning Bug I purchased that had no ID plate. The Lightning Bug isn't particularly rare, but it looks “complete” with the ID plate. Should I ever need a Champion base, the parts key's base is pristine with very little evident wear.
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I've been watching some interesting eBay auctions unfold, and some nice keys pass by.
HI-MOUND “COFFIN BUG”. I've got several of these keys in my collection, and one on the operating desk that I recently pieced back together. It's a great little key that can run slower than most Vibroplexes and avoid feeling mushy. This particular bug at right is a nice example, but I was still surprised when it brought $141.22. I thing the buyer paid about $100 too much. Talk about price variance, I've seen these keys sell for $24 and the next week four times that amount. Perhaps the selling point on this key was the clear plastic cover — it was perfect, with not cracks, chips or other damage.
W8FYO KEY. Talk about your eBay rarity — J.A. Hills, W8FYO of Dayton, is the man who invented what is known today as the Bencher iambic key. He was the one who came up with the design that used nylon bushings and pivots. The FYO key that recently sold on eBay was one of his earlier ones, and FYO keys are exceedingly rare finds on eBay or anywhere.
FYO only made keys for a few years, and he was granted a patent on both his single paddle and the split, dual paddle version. The key that sold on eBay was extra collectible because it had a story behind it — the key was a gift from FYO to the seller's uncle, who was a ham.
FYO quit making his paddles by the time the patent was granted in 1965. HAL licensed his design in 1975 and apparently made some keys (I've never seen one). Teletek released an FYO-style paddle, which was later sold to Bencher, which made the FYO design one of the most common iambic keys known to hamdom in the past 30 years.
The FYO key shown here was a single lever, non-iambic key. It functioned much the way the old Vibroplex Vibrokeyer worked, only the action was superior. I've heard that high-speed CW ops really liked the FYO design. The iambic key, with the split “ring,” is the most common of the two today. Bencher still sells the single lever design, though I would wager the lion's share of sales are the iambic version.
The paddle is unique — it incorporates both the “thumb piece” (paddle) and “finger piece” (knob) you would expect on a regular bug.
The FYO key sold at a price that was still a bargain — $391, and that included a very nicely built WA4VVF Accu-Keyer.
WWII VIBROPLEX ORIGINAL. OK, so Vibroplex made thousands of keys each year, that's nothing new. But to find one sitting in its leatherette case in pristine condition can be compared to the discovery of King Tut's tomb to a key collector.
Not only did this 1941 Vibroplex Original (standard finish) key come with a case, but it also came with a mint condition period wedge cord and the rarely-seen key to fit the lock on the Vibroplex carrying case. It was truly an exquisite key that looked like it just came off the shelf of some amateur who was getting back on the air in 1946.
The price the key and related paraphernalia brought — $256 — reflected its rarity, but I thought it was worth more. I didn't follow the bidding closely on this key, figuring it would end at a higher figure. Perhaps I pegged its worth higher than most. Would I have plunked down three bills for the key? Perhaps. Such a wonderful key begs to be maintained in its original condition; frankly, I'm not interested in buying additional Closet Queens. I would have to have pulled the key out of the case and put 'er to work once in a while. Knowing the wear and tear these keys can take in daily use, I doubt my use would have left any visible impact on the key. But that's the next owner's decision, not mine.
OVERALL KEY PRICE RANGE. The demand for nice Vibroplex keys on eBay remains steady. Prices are holding at the upper end of what I would term average. Nice keys, and collectible ones (any Blue Racer or Presentation from any year) will see a price spike. Your average run-of-the-mill mid-50s-to-late-60s Vibroplex Original can command as much as $90 — and thats in standard finish.
Other makes of keys, particulary Benchers, continue to see strong demand. I seldom see the standard BY-1 Bencher sell for less than $50, though I've seen some recent exceptions to that rule (some as low as $40). While some say the Bencher keys are fragile, they seem to last nearly forever. The fact the design hasn't changed in many years is probably proof positive of a solid design.
That's enough blabbering about keys … 73 es CUL … de KY4Z … dit dit ….