While I was trying to get to sleep early this morning, I had an ephiphany regarding the county fair contests: They need to add a category for “Best Antique Telegraph Item.” I've got entries stacked up around here that would keep me participating for years!
Enough of the fair … but back to the semi-automatic telegraph transmitters.
Pictured here is the latest addition to the collection, a 1946 Vibroplex Original. The key's box has a railroad logo on it, and it appears to have been a railroad key for a period of time. The key spent a lot of time outside the box, judging from the amount of dust on the base.
But the key is nearly pristine. In the photo, the keying lever is mounted upside down — someone apparently had it out and reinstalled it upside down.
Last night I finally took time to more closely examine the key. Beneath the dust, the paint on the base is excellent. The chrome parts too are just about perfect. The contacts don't show a lot of wear either, so perhaps this key didn't go with the box, or it just wasn't used much. Most pre-WWII railroad keys I have were very well used, and have the scratches and wear to prove it. It appears this key led a very sheltered life.
The key came with a third weight, which indicates to me this key was probably used more in a ham shack. I may take time to clean up the base this weekend, and I'm sure it's going to really look nice once that's done. The key has very good feel to it.
I bought this one on a lark really, it was selling way cheap (which is unusual; bugs with any connection to a railroad seem to sell at a premium).
I've not purchased many additional bugs lately, I'm more interested now in storing properly the ones I have and displaying some of them as well. I have some ideas but a trip lo Lowe's is in order.
More to come …
dit dit ..