Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 — I’ve had to put my lust for goodies on eBay aside for a while due to other financial priorites. I’ve had lotsa stuff I’ve seen that I’ve liked of course; plus the fact that I was busy attending hamfests, and I was holding out some pocket change for picking up something there.
I didn’t see much in the way of CW keys, other than a couple of Heathkit HD-1410 keyers; I already own one, the first one I bought back more than 20 years ago. It’s an excellent electronic keyer once you get the feel of the paddles too; I wasn’t looking to buy a “backup” since they’re sold just about every day on eBay.
But a couple of things from auctions I did pursue arrived in today’s mail — a Yaesu VX-150 handie talkie (mint condition and put up for a very cheap Buy It Now), and a Les Logan Speed-X 500 bug.
The HT works just fine; its here on my desk sitting in its charger. I probably have two or three of them already, but hey, this one came with the drop in charger … for a great price. Just think of the money I saved … oh way, that only works when my wife buys shoes on sale, lol!
The bug was an excellent buy because of the fantastic condition it is in — with one exception: The pivot pin on the keying lever is damaged (the lower one). I have several parts keys that can provide donor pivot pins — which when reassembled will make one mint condition key. The chrome on this key really is “da bee’s knees” … its very, very good. The base is excellent too. All I could think of when I saw this key going for sale was how easily it’ll be a fine-looking key again. It’ll join my stable of mint condition original Les Logan Speed-X keys.
I opted not to pursue a key I really, really wanted — an E.F. Johnson 115-500 bug with the late model center pivot assembly (the pivot assembly that Johnson used last on the Model 500 bug that removed the “ears”). I don’t have one of those in my collection and one sold earlier this week. I just didn’t want to pursue it because I didn’t want to shell out the cash I knew it would bring. Unfortunately, I misjudged this one … it sold for a paltry $58! Most of them sell for 2-1/2 times that amount. Go figure!
COMING SOON … PHOTOS! I picked up two bugs that appear to have been homemade back in the 1930s. Each needs some work, but they’re excellent examples of hams who “rolled their own” bugs rather than plunk down $12 for their own key.
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