I've not spent much time at the rig since SKN, but I did spend just a little time with the Electro Bug key that arrived recently.
Sometimes I wish sellers would take photographs of the places where these keys are unearthed. This bug had a chrome plated base, but it was dull gray with spots of corrosion (i.e. rust) on it. The missing box for the solenoid relay didn't help.
With some 409 cleaner, a toothbrush and some Flitz metal polish, its been amazing how the Electro Bug has cleaned up. The base isn't perfect of course, but its improved about 200 percent now that it shines. I could use a little 0000 steel wool and cut down that rust, or a little naval jelly, which I might do to stop the rust from progressing. I cleaned the key's contacts too.
I dug out my Electro Bug Jr and the differences aren't huge. The Jr has a slightly narrower base. Not a lot, but a little. I didn't measure it, but maybe a 1/4-inch? The hardware all looks the same, though the top parts on the Jr are brass instead of chrome or nickel plated. Where the Electro Bug has the lever and rheostat, the Jr. model lever is the circuit closer with only two positions, open and closed.
The Electro Bug was probably converted to radio use many years ago by a previous owner. This explains why the relay box was removed and the key wired up to remove the rheostat lever from the circuit.
One modification an earlier owner added to the key is worth mentioning. The Electro Bug's pendulum is flat, much like the one used on the Vibroplex Champion, Zephyr and Lightning Bug models. The weights clamp on in a manner simliar to the Vibroplex square weights. The “dit” contact on the Electro Bug was not on a spring steel arm as on Vibroplex and other bugs. The “dit” contact was soldered to the actual pendulum.
It's a given that the keying pendulum and the dit contact have to have some “give” to keep from dampening the keying lever's action while it bounces to make the required dits. The Vibroplex employs the U-shaped dit contact assembly. On the Electro Bug, the dit contact is spring loaded — the contact sticks out from the adjustment screw, and when the pendulum hits it, it depressed the contact into the keying lever. There's enough travel on the contact to prevent it from dampening the lever action excessively.
It's a pretty interesting system, particularly when you look at the fact that the Electro Bug had to find a way around Vibroplex's patents, which that company vigorously defended. (I'm assuming that was the spring-loaded contact's purpose).
The mod I'm referring to was the addition of a Vibroplex-style u-shaped dit contact assembly to the Electro Bug's keying lever. This appears to be a Vibroplex (or similar maker) part. The owner had to cut a slot in the mount so the contact could be attached to the weight arm. He (or she) did a good job on the mod, and until I wasn't aware it wasn't a factory assembly until I was disassembling the keying arm.
I have not tried the key without the dot contact arm mod. I suspect he had a good reason for the mod, and was pleased with the improvement it offered. I'll probably just keep it as is.
I will eventually have to fabricate a couple of weights for the key. I could use some heavy solder wrapped around the arm, but I want something that looks a little better. I have two original Electro Bug weights on my Jr. model key, and I can fabricate a pair using those as models.
There's not a great deal of information on the Web about the Electro Bug. I'm sure some collectors know the details about the company.
I did find that the Electro Manufacturing Co. was founded in Fresno, Calif., in 1927. It later moved to San Francisco — history that my two Electro-Bugs confirm.
Both Electro-Bug models I own have serial numbers on the bottom of the base. The Jr. model — with a Fresno, Calif., ID plate — has the low serial no. 2,921. The Electro-Bug “Sr.” — with an ID plate stating it was made in San Francisco, Calif. — bears the later serial number 10,629. The ID plates both indicate “Patent Pending.”
In 1934, Stewart Johnson bought the Electro Manufacturing Co. and it became Speed-X. The early Speed-X keys I have — those without ID tags — were likely manufactured during this era.
In 1937, Les Logan bought Speed-X, and from that point forward his keys stated Les Logan and Speed-X. Logan sold Speed-X to E.F. Johnson in 1947.
Enough of the history lesson. I'm going back to the shack and play with the key.
73 de KY4Z … dit dit …