Friday, April 13, 2012 — The old tale about Friday the 13th being unluck is absolutely fiction — and I have conclusive proof to back up my statement! In this morning’s mail I received one honey of a key — Vibroplex Champion Serial No. 114,829.
This is a very early Vibroplex Champion model as the serial number dates it to 1940, which was the year the key was introduced. I believe this is the third Vibroplex Champion I own, and certainly one of the most unique ones.
While it is interesting since it is a very early Champion, the real fascinating part is that this key uses the old style “box hinge” for the dash lever hinge. In 1923, Vibroplex switched from the “box hinge” for the dash lever hinge to a much simpler “bent lug” design. The “lugs” are part of the dash lever, and are bent at a 90-degree angle so they can serve as the hinge; the pivot rod that supports the keying lever also serves as the “pin” for the bent-lug style dash lever hinge.
The box hinge style disappeared from Vibroplex keys in 1923, only to surface in a few keys made about 1940. It’s kind of a mystery to Vibroplex historians why the box hinge resurfaced after nearly 20 years. There are lots of theories floated about, but the one I think is most plausible is that they found a sizable cache of old parts somewhere in their shop and decided to make use of them.
The difference in hinges means nothing to the customer; its a hinge, it works or it doesn’t. But moving forward 70 years, you have to wonder why the used the old-style parts.
The parts are not NOS (new old stock), because the original parts from that era when finished would have been nickle plated. These parts are chrome plated like the rest of the parts on the key. Vibroplex switched from nickle to chrome plating about 1939/1940 if I remember correctly. The parts were finished to match the standard finish for upper parts at the time, but it certainly is the same old box hinge of old.
As you can see, the key is used but in overall good shape. You can see the wear on the right side of the base from use. This Champion is a little rare, as you don’t see many of the early ones with black bases sold on eBay. The vast majority of Champions you see have the grey base. Other than visible wear on the base, the key is in excellent condition. I’m not real sure why the name plate looks so “antiqued.” Not sure if it is dirt and grime, or if that was the intended finish by the company or a previous owner. The key looks excellent, so I doubt it’s dirt and grime.
I didn’t pay too much for the key, given how unique it is. I don’t believe I own another early Champion, so it fills a “slot” in my key collection.