Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 — As a prefix, one of the definitions of “semi” is “to some extent,” “partly,” or “incompletely.” With that in mind, I can’t say my subject line — of my being a “semi-addict” is correct … perhaps “semi-correct” because my attraction/compulsion/fanaticism toward Morse code keys appears to be anything but “partly.”
Now the truth is I am fully aware that I have no need for most of the bugs I see listed on eBay. I can’t justify their purchase … but since when did hams ever need to justify the purchase of anything related to the hobby?? If I had to justify the Yaesu FT-2000 at the operating position, I would probably have to be a full-time MARS op and part-time radio officer for some forlorn U.S. embassy in some forgotten backwater country … the Duchy of Grand Fenwick perhaps?? (What a great DX location, eh? And a rare one to boot!) Don’t talk to me about my “need” to buy ham gear; the needs were filled with my first J-38, Heathkit SB-102 and Astatic D-104!
That said, I don’t buy everything I see; not only do I lack space to store or display it all, I lack the pocket change to pay for it (sigh!). I will follow most interesting eBay CW key auctions (as you might expect, all CW keys make the “interesting” grade in my book). Because eBay limits how many items you can watch — only 200! — I have to be somewhat selective in picking the auctions I follow.
For example, I will follow the hapless seller who lists a T.R. McElroy Mac Key Deluxe with Buy It Now of three times its worth simply to see if someone bites. I will also follow the rare keys, mostly because I like to see how high they go. Most of the rarer ones are out of my financial reach … still, I enjoy watching them go (and wondering if there’s an XYL somewhere who will ask the OM “You paid HOW MUCH for that thing again???” Hi!
HOMEBREW SUCKER. I am a true sucker for homebrewed keys, and last week I saw a homemade brass bug listed. It’s a bit of a hybrid design … combines the pivot frame styled after the Vibroplex Original with the damper of design of the Lightning Bug … all in natural brass. The construction is excellent. I’ll have photos and a full review later. For $30 there was no way I was going to let that key out of my hands.
JUST PLAIN SUCKER? Earlier today I was browsing eBay and ran across two new Buy It Now auctions for keys in excellent, excellent condition. The first key was a WWII Vibroplex Original standard with the tin nameplate. The key is in just minty mint condition, save for paint flaking from the nameplate (normal condition). The other key was a Les Logan Model 500 Speed-X painted in the tan-gray color. This key is also just mint as can be. Each key had a buy it now price under $50, and I couldn’t pass them up … and didn’t. Even if you broke them down for spare parts, you would have a bargain. I’ll post photos and more later on those as well.
I have a good number of keys I can cull from my collection at this point … I think I’ll try to keep the best examples and cull the dupes. That’s a good theory anyway … its hard to do that once you clean a key up and put it on the air. Once it becomes a part of the station, its like selling off a member of the family. Fortunately, the only thing these family members “eat” is space in the shack — which has become a valuable commodity lately.
Still need to repair my dipole … sun’s setting soon, so will recruit/cajole/threaten my son to help and get this done.
73 all!