Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014 — I ran across the new Vibroplex website last week and I’ve been visiting it regularly. For starters, I keep looking at the new ZN Ultimate key … I would like to get a closer look at the bearings on the levers … it looks like they had to do some major machine work on the iambic main frame to fit the upper bearings. I’m going to have to try one out sometime just to see how it feels in comparison with the regular iambic key.
There were some notable omissions from the new Vibroplex website — and some interesting 
tidbits of information.
KNOW CODE KEY. The long-running “Know Code” straight key — first released in 2003 — with the red base has been discontinued. The remaining stock are on sale for $139.95, a savings of $50.
BRASS RACER. The traditional triangular Brass Racer is out of production. Under 
“Obsolete Models” it notes that the traditional brass finish-on-oak-wood-base key is discontinued, though the key is “now available currently with chrome plated finish as the BRASS RACER CLASSIC TRIANGLE.” It leaves questions of what the revised Racer will look like … will it have chrome top parts (like the Square Racers) instead of the brass as used in the past? For now, the key most similar to the classic Brass Racer is the Brass Square Racer.
CODE WARRIOR LINE UP. This likely isn’t truly news, but the new website leaves out the The Lite Warrior iambic key. The Lite Warrior was a version of the NorCal K8FF key that featured a polished aluminum base. The key weight significantly less, making it ideal for QRP portable use.
The Code Warrior Jr. is available now in “Blue Racer Blue” powdercoat, but the aluminum-based key is nowhere to be found. The parts lists for all Vibroplex keys have been updated effective January 2014, and there’s no replacement aluminum base listed in the Code Warrior parts list (same goes for the red base for the Know Code key).
TRIPLE KEYS. The website has a category for “Double and Triple Keys,” however there’s no listing for a single triple key in this category, nor is there a price for any triple key. I assume there’s not a great demand for triple keys, though it appears that if there’s no price for them on the website, they are no longer available.
OTHER DISCONTINUED ITEMS. Under Logo Merchandise, the Vibroplex 100th anniversary book is on sale for $10; the 100th 
Anniversary Patch is discontinued, remaining stock available for $5.95; the Vibroplex car tag is also discontinued, with remaining stock available for $9.
There’s probably other things I’ve missed as well … but perhaps some sharp-eyed readers will point them out to me.
73 es CUL de KY4Z … dit dit