Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, 1 a.m. — Just a quick note before I head off to bed, and a photo to share of a semi-automatic key that I’m confident is unique in a variety of ways.
Today at the Greater Louisville Hamfest, my 18-year-old son texted me a photo (he was out in the flea market outside the venue looking for bargains — that’s my boy!) of a table full of Morse code keys. Wha???
Hamfests over the years have been notably devoid of code keys — beyond the ocassional well-worn Bencher or generic plastic-base cheapo straight keys. I tell my son to always keep an eye out for CW keys, and today I hit the mother load.
Joe Miller, K4DZM, a fellow CW fan and key collector, was in the flea market and had some of his collection for sale. Nothing exceedingly rare for the most part — a Bencher BY-2 and an ST-2; some J-44, J-37, J-38 hand keys, a couple of Speed-X straight keys and several Vibroplex Vibrokeys. Joe also had a couple of Vibroplex keys, including a left-handed key, a 1940s standard Original and this key — a 1910 Vibroplex Double Lever key.
The key has been in Joe’s collection for a good many years. It is unique because the upper parts of the key are gold plated; the base was apparently refinished in a black wrinkle finish. The parts are all original, and complete. The key operates well, though as Joe noted, the dot contact is missing from the spring. I might try to get that replaced in the original, gold-plated spring if possible.
Double Lever keys aren’t common, and while this one isn’t in original condition, I felt it was still such a rare key — and in interesting condition — it was worthy the purchase price.
I didn’t really go to the hamfest equipped with enough funds for a big purchase, and Joe had the Double Lever priced so cheap I couldn’t pass it up.
I’m really bushed, I’ll take more photos and post more about the key later. I’m just happy to give it a new home. More later!
73 de KY4Z … SK … dit dit