I’m officially swearing off buying another bug … (unless its really interesting, of course!)

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 — At this hour I should either be in bed sawing logs or huddled over my key and notepad, cans pressed tight to my ears, digging some rare DX (or QRP station from the next state) out of the noise. No, here I am, staring at my monitor, surrounded by semi-automatic keys.

A seller listed the latest two acquisitions on eBay recently with a Buy It Now under $50; they didn’t last long. Now these aren’t junk keys, but some very nice 65-75 year old keys in overall excellent shape.

1944 Vibroplex Original Standard, 134,xxx. As you can see in the photos, this key looks extra clean; the base is just as new (and on closer inspection, it isn’t a repaint). The top parts are in super condition, and the key shows light-to-average wear. The paddle appears to be the reproduction one that Vibroplex sells these days; the knob is the modern Vibroplex knob, not the older style knob that is correct for this key. I’m not complaining, really — I could easily rob original parts from a key in lesser condition.

This key has the painted-tin Vibroplex name plate, and — as is usually the case — the plate shows paint loss. Vibroplex made a LOT of keys during World War II — 11,000 in 1944 and about the same in 1945. The tin nameplates appeared during the war, I think about late 1943 or early 1944. You’ll notice a subtle difference when they switched to the tin nameplates in how the serial numbers were added to the nameplates. Prior to the change, the serial numbers were stamped from above onto the nameplate (much as they are now). With the switch to the tin nameplates, Vibroplex began embossing the serial number … the number is embossed (raised) above the base of the nameplate. I’m’ not sure if this was due to the change in nameplate metal, change in vendor or just what … that may be an answer that’s lost to history. Vibroplex switched back to brass nameplates by late 1945/early 1946 (based on observations of my own collection), and only dropped the brass when the company moved to Knoxville (don’t get me started).

Speed-X Model 501. Hell, I’m a sucker for Speed-X anything! Eventually — if I live long enough and have enough money — I expect I’ll buy every remaining example of the infamous t-bar bug. It’s my fate … some communities have the “Crazy Cat Lady” … here in my town we’ll have the “Crazy Bug Man” or something similar.

This Speed-X isn’t the usual black, but is more attractive (and less common) gray color. The paint is just fabulous — all original, not scarred, scratched or messed up. The T-bar is painted rather than chrome (judging by how fragile the “T” is to shock and being dropped, I’m convinced they are cast of some inferior pot metal). If you buy one of these beauties, always be aware that the adjustment screws are prone to getting stuck; can’t say exactly why, but I have had plenty of cases where the adjustments were frozen, requiring lots of penetrating oil and care.

The key is a Les Logan model, no serial number. Likely 1930s/early 1940s vintage. Les Logan owned the company through 1947 when he sold it to E.F. Johnson, which kept the Speed-X line going through the early 1970s. The key condition is excellent … note the clean upper parts.

WEIGHTY ISSUES WITH BOTH KEYS. Both these keys were listed by the same seller (and much to my chagrin, were packed TOGETHER in a USPS Priority Mail box! Fortunately there was no damage), both keys in very nice shape — and neither key had the weights with it. I’m not sure where the weights went, but they were not with the keys. That didn’t stop me from picking them up, as I have plenty of weights to use.

OK, I’m swearing off buying more bugs on eBay … promise! (yeah, right!)

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