Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 — Still haven’t received my keying lever I ordered Dec. 28th from Vibroplex, and two emails later, nary a peep! The company didn’t go belly-up on us, did they??
They did claim the Paypal payment I made, but this is unusually poor service from Vibroplex. Even with the New Year’s holiday, its been almost three weeks — I’ve never had to wait for parts to come when the company was in Mobile.
CHECKING IN. I missed checking in on the Georgia Training Net Wednesday night, but remembered to do so last night. The GTN has been running long as more people check in … so much so that the Kentucky CW Net has been over by the time we’re done.
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Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 — Though I continue to wait for my replacement keying lever from Vibroplex for the latest 100th Anniversary Original I acquired, I did receive some bug-related items in today’s mail — and boy howdy, are they nice!
In your time browsing eBay for key-related items, you have more than likely run across a seller who listed replacement triangular and oval-shaped thumb pieces for Vibroplex keys (and the unique rounded thumb pieces for J-36 keys too). Arizona Roadrunner (Roy) is the seller, and his auctions all use a green background for his items. Makes his listings very easy to spot.
Over the years, I have purchased dozens of items from Roy, from keys to replacement parts. He’s a top-notch seller.
More recently, I found a second seller listing additional replacement finger and thumb pieces for not only Vibroplex keys, but Mac Keys and Speed-X keys too! Today I received two sets of replacement Mac Key finger and thumb pieces, and I have to say they look beautiful and they are virtually the same as the original pieces.
The eBay seller’s ID is cfzepp-antenna, and today’s order was my second. He also lists replacement weights, including stainless steel weights that include thumb screws. For guys like me who like to have the option of slowing the dot rate down, the stainless steel weights work very well and look great.
But this seller is one of the few who sells exact replacement Mac Key paddles with the correct beveled screw openings. The replacement finger piece (knob) is about as close to the original as you could expect. After installing a set on one of my 1938B Mac Keys, I placed it alongside my current bug at the operating position — another 1938B Mac Key. Looking at them on the desk, you can’t tell the difference between the original and the replacements.
He also sells old-style replacement finger and thumb pieces for pre-World War II Vibroplex keys, as well as the closer knob (black only). I’ve been tempted to withdraw a substantial amount of money and invest in the previously hard-to-find replacement parts — stockpile them for future projects.
To be fair, Vibroplex sells replacement thumb pieces (both the classic triangular type and the modern oval shape) and finger knobs, as well as closer switch knobs (in black only). Some of the sellers offer free shipping, and that can make a difference when you’re cheap like me and want to lowest price for quality parts.
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