Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012 — It’s taken me a while to get around to it, but I’ve been shooting photos of some of my keys for the record. I feel like I should shoot photos of every key, since there will likely come a time when I wish to consolidate the lot (heaven forbid!!).
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905 VIBROPLEX. This mostly complete Vibroplex was built before Horace Martin’s company became known as Vibroplex; the name was just the model name of the key which followed his Autoplex.
I got the key worth the money due to the timing of its auction ending. I sniped it successfully, and was happy to have it. I have seen these sell for some big dollars on eBay before,
As the photos illustrate, this key certainly worked for a living. The nickel plating is worn off nearly all of the upper parts. The japanning held up pretty well, which is usually the case with pre-World War II keys.
Interesting points about this key: Check out the thumb piece; wonder what the three holes represent? The 1905 and ’06 keys (at least) don’t use locknuts on some of their adjustments; they use locking screws to keep the adjustment from changing. I’ve wondered why Horace Martin used the locking screws when the locknuts would have worked fine; perhaps he felt the adjustments could be locked-in better? The adjustments with locknuts include the dit and dah contact and the spring tension adjustment.
What identifies the key as a 1905 Vibroplex? The locking screws for starters; also the serial number (stamped on the side of the damper); the damper has an adjustment screw to is designed to adjust its resting position; the screw has 
its own locking screw. This key is missing the adjustments crew and locking screw. Another 1905 feature is the damper features a “squared-off” arm that may have carried over to the 1906 model. The 1905 model’s nameplate has only four lines and a single patent number. Another interesting fact is the damper on the earliest keys is held on with a single screw, rather than two screws as used on the key a couple years after its debut.
In 1907, Martin moved his company to Norcross, Georgia and Atlanta before moving back to New York about 1909. He marketed his keys as manufactured by United Electrical Manufacturer. UEM went bust while Martin was in Georgia, and he moved back to New York to produce his keys.
I haven’t put the key on the air, but I have played with it. It’ needs cleaning, but the key is servicable and usable … not bad for a key that’s 107 years old.
I have more photos of bugs to share, but it will need to be a later date. It’s late and time to go dream about that pristine 1905 bug that I’m always on the lookout to buy.
G’night!
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