Saturday, May 26, 2012, 2:15 p.m. — I should be outside enjoying the summer sunshine, but like most good hams, I’m working in the shack trying to … well, “clean.”
UPDATE Oct. 15, 2012: While cleaning my shack I ran across a sealed shipping box that felt like it had bug inside. I opened the box to find a shipping receipt from Vibroplex for my still new-in-the-box 100th Anniversary Original Vibroplex key. The key is 100A-603 (according to the label on the box). I have sense sealed the box and receipt back up for safe keeping and marked the exterior of the box.
I come from a long line of pack rats, and an Amateur Radio license also entitles one to be a collector of “stuff,” so you can only imagine my what my shack/office looks like. My original intent was to have this room serve as half-office and half-shack. As you might expect, ths office “half” was quickly pushed to “one-sixteenth” — and that’s not counting the ham-related stuff packed under the “office” desk, on my “office” bookcases and even on top of the desk.
My “office” desk has no fewer than four semi-automatic bugs, as well as various and 
sundry hand tools, callsign badges, VHF/UHF handie talkies, a scanner, and a shortwave/amateur receiver (Lafayette HA-350). There’s an office printer here somewhere, I think. I’m glad I don’t claim an IRS deduction for an office, they would have a hard time finding it in an audit.
My trip to Dayton last week and my view of the latest incarnation of the 100th Anniversary Vibrople Original bug has prompted me to seriously consider the purchase of a “Knoxville” version. I’ve already decided that the one I get will be upgraded to jeweled movements, and it will have the Knoxville nameplate.
And thoughts of my existing 100th Anniversary bugs led me to my search for them (I’ve left them in their original Vibroplex boxes). So the photos you see here are from the three four five I have — Serials 211, 406. 604. 664, and 699. (CORRECTION. I have four five — I purchased Serial No. 406 on eBay last year, but it did not come in the original shipping box. I found it under my desk with a year’s worth of dust on it — a sin in any bug collector’s book!)
You’ll note the difference between NR211 and 664 — the later has the notation that it was “Sold ‘as-is.'” Vibroplex had placed a note on its website that it was having production problems with the special 100th Anniversary bases, as the finish was much more fragile that the standard base. Apparently, buyers wanted keys with flawless bases; as a result, the company dropped the prices of the keys and noted the finishes would likely have some small flaws. The price they sold them at was less the price of the “standard” finish Original (with the textured, black base). When Scott Robbins bought the company, he soon raised the price to position the key above the “standard” finish but below the “DeLuxe” finish.
The 100th Anniversary bug I ordered direct when the sale of Viborplex was announced is still in its original shipping box, so I don’t have a photo of the label on the exterior of its box. I’m assuming its in the 664-700 range, since NR 699 has a Knoxville mailing label on it.
When I ordered my 100th Anniversary, I had the option to request a specific serial number if I wished. I did not specify a serial number. The first 100th Anniversary key I bought was NR 211; the guy I bought it from told me that Vibroplex made a mistake in numbering, and there was another 100th Anniversary Vibroplex with the same serial number.
A couple of these have shown up in eBay in recent months, and one of them I had planned to pursue; unfortunately I was away from home all day, and the auction ended. But did I really need a fifth key identical to the other four? Nah! (Though somehow that sounds unnatural for me to admit not “needing” another bug!)
How did I end up buying yet another 100th Anniversary bug? Well, I have this pipe dream of having a 100th Anniversary bug as my everyday key at my operating position. Every time the USPS delivers a 100th Anniversary key, they’re just too darn cool to put into use — over time they’ll be worn, scratched, etc. Each time I’ve thought to myself, “Self, let’s just keep this little jewel in its box and wait for one the next one that’s used and shows use.” And the truth is, if I buy a new 100th Anniversary “Knoxville” bug, it’ll probably stay safely in its box, at least for a while.
There’s a bunch of interestng — and rare — bugs listed on eBay. I’ll be watching from afar, but I’m not in any financial condition to pursue an Automorse or other super-collectible key. I sure enjoy looking at them, though.
Time to get something done outside the house. 73!