Yes, it appears that my research on an eBay item missed one important aspect — the shipping cost.
I recently won a bid on a 1913 Vibroplex Original in fair original condition. Nothing to write home about, but hey, it's older than any bug in my collection. The opening bid was $150, and the Buy It Now was something well over $200. Anyway, I bid the opening bid — which knocked off the BIN.
I kept thinking someone would bid on it … and secretly hoping. I liked the key, but didn't particularly care if I was outbid. The $150 was tops for this key.
Turns out it was tops for everyone who saw it.
As I said, the one factor I forgot to check was the shipping cost. The seller zinged me good on shipping — $50 to ship it here from Canada, plus $5 mandatory insurance. Yikes! When I got his invoice, my jaw hit the floor. How much??
I stalled a couple days paying the guy. Not that I wasn't going to, but geez, what shipping! I won't feel as bad once the key arrives. Maybe.
MORE EBAY AUCTION ACTION. Well, the 1913 key may come looking well worn (it probably is), another newcomer key will certainly add some sparkle to my collection: A 1955 Vibroplex Lightning Bug De Luxe.
This baby is very, very clean, and I suspect it will find a prominent home near the operating desk. Hell, I've got more bugs now that I can possibly use, I either need to work a lot more CW or sell them. Sell them?? Naaaw!!
I found the base to that really ragged-out Original De Luxe I bought cheap this summer. The one with the rusted base?
I was tempted to simply buy a new base for it ($70 … shudder!), but instead planned to strip the base of its rust and most of the chrome and refinish the base in the style of the 100th Anniversary Originals.
This will be a trial run of sorts to see if I can successfully refinish the bases on many of the other pre-War Vibroplex keys I have. I have the skills to do it, I need a couple of guinea pigs. The Original De Luxe is the first.
SPEAKING OF RIP-OFF SHIPMENT CHARGES. I bought a cheap off-brand CB last week because it was attached to an adjustable hump mount that looked like it might work in my Dodge Durango. The CB was incidental, the mount was what I wanted. I bought it for $4.99.
Imagine my shock when the shipping charges were $24.95! Holy shit, $25 for a $5 item? She used Priority to get it here, and I suspect she could have shipped it parcel post for a good deal less. The actual shipping cost was only $17. This woman did NOT specify shipping on her auction, nor did she have a calculator. Anyway, I gave her positive feedback (she earned it), but I also complained in the feedback about the shipping charges being high. I'm sure she'll love me for it. She hasn't posted feedback about me, so it will be interesting to see what she says … like I give a rats patootie!! LOL!
DID I MENTION …? Did happen to mention earlier that I bought yet another bug? Lord help me, I can't let them pass … like little lost puppies, I always have room for one more.
This is yet ANOTHER Cedar Rapids Bug, that venerable semi-automatic key sold in kit form. This one is just your standard black krinkle finish Cedar Rapids Bug.
It's not as nice as the ones I've picked up recently off eBay. It's mostly complete. It's missing the rubber bumper on the damper (a simple o-ring will suffice), and also one of the weights.
What makes this key interesting is that it is the “landline” version of the key — it has the circuit closer switch, a feature that the “radio key” version did not include. Most of the ones you see for sale on eBay are the radio keys. This key has all the correct adjustment screws and locknuts, as well as the proper terminal nuts, which aren't knurled like Vibroplexes, they just used six-sided nuts.
I don't know what my attraction is to the Cedar Rapids Bug(s). I don't have count of how many I have, but I'm probably up to 5 or 6 at least. I've got a couple of really mint ones, and others of varying condition. I find the key to be fairly easy to use and adjust. I suspect they sold a blue million of these things, and that many of them were trashed or salvaged over the years.
What I need to do is save my money and pursue the keys I really want — the McElroys. I would like to buy a complete and working Mac-Key Deluxe. Seems when they hit eBay I miss them or don't have the cash. Hmmm….
Well, enough for now. I'm back across the shack to the radio desk.
73 es GN … de KY4Z SK …. dit dit ….