Thursday, June 6, 2013, 12:15 a.m. — I mentioned in my last post that due to my wife’s illness, I had not pursued additions to my code key collection (other than watching a few auctions). Writing that entry prompted me to spend more time browsing eBay — which only fed my frustrations! After watching an Electro Bug pass by without my bid, the icing on the cake was a 1905 Vibroplex I did not bid on — and I wanted it VERY badly. Actually, I had planned to follow it more closely, but life gets in the way sometimes and the auction was done by the time I got back to it. *Sigh!*
In a fit of self-pity, I pursued a couple other keys — both of which I correctly assumed would be more in my price range than the 1905 Vibroplex.
The first key arrived today — a 1920s-30s Vibroplex clone. I haven’t spent a lot of time on it, but I have been trying to determine its manufacturer. In the process, I have ruled out a couple.
NOT A SPEEDOPLEX NO. 2. A quick comparison to my Leach Relay Co. Speedoplex No. 2 shows that my new key is not a Speed0plex — or if it is, it is a much later version. The knurling on the lock nuts and adjustments is completely different than that found on my Speedoplex, and unlike that found on any year Vibroplex Original.
The dash lever hinge is not the pre-early 1920s box hinge arrangement; it is the “bent-lug” design Vibroplex continues to use to this day. The Speedoplex also had a different method for the damper arm hinge. Rather than let it hang from a slot in the main base of the damper, the unknown bug duplicates the Vibroplex damper.
NOT AN ATOZ IMPROVED VIBROPLEX. The AtoZ Improved Vibroplex also doesn’t match this key; the AtoZ also used the box hinged dash lever; the knurling is also very different.
The only attribute this unknown maker’s key shares with both the Speedoplex and AtoZ key is the rounded arms on the main pivot frame.
While it is possible the screws and locknuts were appropriated from another key, I think it is doubtful. All of the knurling on the key match — the lock nuts have knurling that runs at a right angle to the width of the nut; the knurl on the adjustment screw heads is angled. They look nothing like the pattern used by Vibroplex over the years.
I have to do more research on this key, but it was a nicely priced addition to the collection, and something of a “mystery key” to boot. Who doesn’t like a mystery??
A MAC KEY COMETH. I have a 1936B McElroy Mac Key De Luxe on the way as well. This one is a little rough around the edges — the contact posts and circuit closer are missing, there’s quite a bit of paint loss on the tee bar, the lever is bent, etc. This key comes from the collection of Tom French. This key is interesting because it is a low serial number. It needs some work to be brought back to original condition, but I got it worth the money. My eBay fix(es) for the week!
I’m going to start archiving interesting keys I see on eBay again. I did that for several years in the past, and it provided an interesting database of keys as they were bought and sold on eBay. I have a spare 1 TB drive on the desk, might as well put it to good use.
G’night to all …
73 de KY4Z