Yeah, that's right, it's not Turkey Day without being thankful for amateur radio.
I've not been a very alert eBay'er lately, as I've let some real DEALS slide past me. What's worse, I knew they were deals and had been watching them. I failed to be at the computer at “the right time” to put in a bid. And the last few times I was there, I was outbid. Go figure!
Money is kinda tight here at the homestead, so I've purposely not been quite as much “in the hunt” as I normally might if I had plenty of cash. With Christmas coming, I need to hold back some cash … unless of course there's a deal that's just too sweet to pass up. The ones I'm going to mention were ones I probably would have pursued regardless of the purse strings.
Feather Key
What do you call a near mint condition World War II era Vibroplex Original Standard in a near mint condition carrying case? This particular seller called it a “Feather Key.”
Turns out the key was used by the seller's father, who was a railroad telegrapher. Damn, a documented key in a great case, but it's label so screwily that no one found it. Guess what the key brought?
$50. Talk about a steal!!
Life is full of interesting ironies, and I enjoy noticing them — and here's some intereting ones related to the above auction.
The same time this auction was running, there were two Vibroplex cases for auction — the cases are the Vibroplex-sold cases that are leatherette-covered wood boxes lined with felt. I can remember seeing them mentioned in the company ads up until 15 or 20 years ago.
I have a number of the cases, and they're truly a nice thing to have. They store and protect the key like no other case.
One of the two cases that sold at auction sold for more than $100 — which was more than a paid a couple weeks ago for a 1968 Vibroplex Original De Luxe with a mint condition case. The second case sold for more than $75.
Both cases — both empty too, by the way — sold for more than the keys that go in them. I find that hard to believe, but you know, on eBay its truly the law of supply and demand. The price is truly controlled by the demand.
Double Bugs
I missed out on a great opportunity to buy two bugs for the price of one. These 1930s-era Vibroplex Originals missed a few parts, but they were largely intact and in decent shape. Add a couple of weights and a finger and thumb piece and you've got complete keys.
The pair of key sold for $71 — which is probably what one of these keys would have been worth sold by itself. Ocassionally there are bargains on eBay, and this was truly one of them (provided you were a collector of old bugs).
I probably would have snapped them up regardless. I see old bugs like these as investments anyway. My wife says I've got way too many “investments” stuck around the shack as it is, hi hi.
Latest Auction Wins & What-nots …
Lest you think I have been totally inactive and ignoring eBay, here's some of my latest acquisitions and auctions I've won.
Cedar Rapids Bug. I'm enjoying the heck out of the latest Cedar Rapids Bug I won on eBay. It's not exactly mint condition, and I had to adapt an o-ring to the damper, but it plays exceptionally well.
I had to add my customary “bug tamer” to the pendulum, but that slows it down almost too much. If it had the second speed weight it would probably be enough to slow it down to “my speed.” I was unsure of how well I would like using the key, but in a QSO earlier this week the only misteps I made were my own spelling errors. Noe were attributable to the key. I cleaned it up and adjusted it, and it operates very, very nicely. To spiffy it up, I probably should disassemble it and repaint it. The original paint on the frame is scrapped up pretty good, revealing the original brass. I scrubbed the old key and it came out looking pretty nice.
Les Logan Speed-X Model 500. Ok, I admit it. I have a weakness for Speed-X keys — especially the bugs. I have a Les Logan Speed-X Model 501 on the operating desk now that I'm still very enamoured with, and I doubt I'll retire it anytime soon (it is in rotation with my Vibroplex Blue Racer and the latest Cedar Rapids Bug I've using).
My latest key that I won last night is also a Les Logan Speed-X. It's a model 500 that is equipped with a chrome t-bar frame. The base is painted crinkle black. The only thing it appears to be missing is the damper. On these Speed-X bugs, the damper is a very simple setup — a slotted post with a damper wheel mounted in it. I should have kept that broken Speed-X key I had and used the spare parts for this one. Maybe I'll write him about the parts … anyway, the key was very cheap since it was listed as missng parts.
The key is also missing the tension spring and the spring adjustment lock nut. I suspect I can cobble up a replacement that will be functional. Again, if I had that old key back I would be set. I need to write that guy!!
1943 Vibroplex Original Standard. This key looked a little forlorn in the main auction photo. This was due to a bad exposure. Other pics of the key showed it was much nicer looking that the first pic showed.
The key is only missing the weights. Otherwise the key is excellent shape and comes complete with the old wedge cord.
Bidding was very low on the key, and I decided to pursue this one. It would only take a couple of weights to have a mint condition WWII era key. Do I need another 60-year-old code key? No, not really. But I can't pass up another piece of history for so little money.
The beauty of the post-1940 keys is that you can add recently manufactured parts and they won't necessarily look out of place. Vibroplex switched from nickel to chrome plating about 1939. Nickel just doesn't wear as well as chrome, and that's evident among all my pre-1939 keys.
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My wife just got home from work this morning, so I better help in the kitchen. After all, it's Thanksgiving Day, and I wouldn't want to be the turkey who misses it!
73 es CUL DE KY4Z … dit dit …..