Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 — Its one of those lazy Sunday afternoons when there’s probably something to do, but I don’t feel like looking too hard to do it. The XYL and I slept in this morning having gone to church last night.
I’ve spent that last little bit cruising eBay and deleting completed auctions from my items watched list. It always — always — includes some absolute killer CW keys that undoubtedly will catch the eye of nearly every key fanatic (or in my case, “Crazy Bug Man”, hi hi).
1941 VIBROPLEX LIGHTNING BUG. I have a soft spot in my heart (or my head per the XYL) for the Lightning Bug. I can’t explain exactly why, but I love the look of a Lightning Bug (though admittedly, I don’t have one at the operating position to use right now!). And what sets my mouth watering even more is a DeLuxe model Lightning Bug.
I have a couple of very nice DeLuxes and a wide assortment of standard ones from the late 1920s through the 70s. I have always wondered why Vibroplex discontinued this model; I can’t help but think it would be less expensive to make since it used stamped parts rather than a cast frame and damper.
The two “children” of the Lightning Bug design — the Champion and the Zephyr — don’t have a great deal of appeal to me, though they are both can be made to operate as well as the Lightning Bug.
The Lightning Bug DeLuxe shown here is currently on eBay with a Buy It Now of $425. It looks like it was kept in a carrying case it is so clean — not too shabby for 75 years old! While I have been out of the active (meaning daily) hunt for CW keys on eBay, I think the price is on the high side. The key is super nice, and if the case came with it, it would boost its saleability. But $425 for a key that is super nice but not exactly rare … well, I’ll put it this way … If I had $425 to spend today, I would use it to purchase a key I don’t already own. (A note to the eBay seller: Don’t be offended, just know that I am really, really CHEAP!)
PS – The same eBay seller has a transmitter I’ve never seen on eBay — a Barker & Williamson 6100 synthesized HF transmitter. The B&W 5100 is well-known, but I had never seen a 6100 until this morning. What a neat transmitter! If I had a decently equipped bench I would be inclined to fork over the BIN price of $575.
1938 MAC KEY DELUXE. As Maxwell Smart would say, “I missed it by that much, Chief!” As you might already suspect, I already have a number of 1938 Mac Keys, both standard and deluxe, but this one that sold yesterday was in very, very good condition. The marbleite paint job was excellent, the large nameplate was in great shape, all the top parts were in great shape and shiny. The key came with the larger “blocky” dot stabilizer, which was a big plus in my book. It only had one weight, but that wouldn’t have stopped me from paying the winning bid of $139 and change.
BUNNELL MARTIN FLASH. Oh, speaking of missed opportunities! This Martin Flash appeared to be in very good as-found condition and complete, and sold for the low, low price of $77. I would pay that in … here it comes … “in a Martin Flash!”
TWO FINAL NEAR-MISSES (DARN IT!). Two other keys passed the way of eBay and I was either unable to bid or unwilling to part with the loot given the lack of funds so soon after Christmas.
The keys include one I’ve lusted for forever — an Electro Bug in complete, original condition, and a TAC “Hole in the Wall” bug that was in excellent shape and sold for $44 and change. Of course, I don’t NEED another TAC bug in standard trim, but this one may rival one of the ones I own condition-wise. The key also had a previous owners’ callsign etched into the bottom, giving it some provenance.
The TAC bugs have a different feel, just tends to feel heavy to me. Lots of weight there. I like them, but given the choice between the TAC and a Speed-X 501, I’ll go with the Speed-X. But hey, that’s just personal preference. One of my elmers couldn’t stand to operate a Vibroplex bug because he’s been sending with either an iambic paddle or keyboard. The Vibroplex takes a little more wrist action, hi hi.
One key I forgot to mention for Straight Key Night that was ready but not used was my Bencher RJ-1 straight key. Probably the funkiest damn straight key ever produced, in my opinion. Hopefully — very hopefully — I can have my J-37 iambic/straight key combo ready for action by SKN 2016!
73 es HNY … de KY4Z …. SK … dit dit ….