Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 — Right now the favorite CW key at my operating position is still the 1913 Vibroplex Original, and I used it to check into nets last night and again this evening.
I’ve been patiently (?) waiting for my replacement keying lever to arrive from Vibroplex … two emails have been unanswered by them. I paid them on Dec. 28th and haven’t heard squat. If I get a chance tomorrow I need to call.
100th ANNIVERSARY KEYS SK. After not receiving a response from Vibroplex, tonight I decided to check the website and make sure they were still with us. While browsing the site I noticed a change in the new Vibroplex Original models for sale. The 100th Anniversary model for most of last year had a notation that the key was out of stock and anticipated delivery was the latter part of 2015.
I last checked in December (when I ordered the keying lever) and remember the wording was the same (though it couldn’t get much “later” in 2015 than late December, hi!) Tonight I noticed that wording changed to
NOTE: 100th Anniversary keys are presently not in production. No anticipated delivery date at this time.
How disappointing. I suspect this means the key will eventually disappear from the site, much the way the Brass Racer and the aluminum-based “Lite” Warrior did. I really wish Vibroplex would use the 100th Anniversary finish as one of its standard finishes — or maybe its time to replace the plain old black wrinkle finish with the old finish.
I know, I know, that isn’t really practical because the 100th Anniversary finish doesn’t wear as well as the black powdercoat textured finish does. But I still prefer the classic look of the key.
Of course, the actual asphaltum-based japanning on the pre-World War II era keys was very, very durable — the same sort of black finish was applied to tools and equipment. On some of my keys of the 1920s and 30s, the original jappaned finish is still in relatively good condition for being 80-plus years old.
The truth may be very simple — if there wasn’t enough sales volume for the optional 100th anniversary finish, it isn’t a good use of capital to invest in the keys when the return on that investment could be lengthy.
KUDOS TO VIBROPLEX. While I’m not exactly pleased at the silence and delay of my ordered parts, I have to give Vibroplex kudos for its recent acquisitions of Bencher, Inrad, and several other businesses.
In the Vibroplex lineup, I also have to applaud their decision to expand the blue textured finish beyond the Blue Racer; it is available on the Vibroplex straight key as an option and the Square Racer too. I think the finish should be an option on the other standard finish 
keys, though I’m not sure how appealing the color would look on the Vibrocube, the ZN Ultimate or the Iambic key.
I think it would look really attractive on the Code Warror Jr. as an optional finish.
Oh, I also want to say how much I love the “Chrome Classic Triangle Racer,” which is the updated version of the old Brass Racer. I have a Brass Racer, and it is a key that works well; but the truth of it is that I have never liked the brushed or satin-look brass finish. I have never thought it very attractive. The new Chrome Triangle Racer is a very much needed update to a very good and reliable key. In fact, I think it would be a good idea to convert the Square Brass Racer to a chrome base married to the oak, like the Chrome Triangle Racer. Or I would simply discontinue the Square Brass Racer entirely, and keep the Square racers with the standard black textured and chrome finishes.
LIGHTNING BUG REDUX CANCELED? I don’t have confirmation of this, but I’m guessing that the plans to bring back the Vibroplex Lightning Bug into production have been canceled.
I asked Scott Robbins about this a couple of years ago at Dayton, and at the time he was still planning to move forward on it once he had time. I suggested that he make the 100th Anniversary finish as one of its optional finishes, and if he did I would be happy to pay in advance for the first one.
But those plans seem to have failed to launch; while reviewing tradmarks registered and owned by Vibroplex LLC, I found that the trademark for the Lightning Bug that had been active was canceled. I assume that means any plan to resurrect it are also canceled. I may be wrong.
SPEAKING OF KEYS. I scored a very nice deal on a Vibroplex Code Warrior Jr on eBay recently. A seller has a pretty reasonable Buy It Now price but they also would consider offers. The seller accepted my low-ball offer and I was quite tickled! Maybe I should have the base powder coated in blue texture so I can have a one-off key as a demo? Hmm …
PARTS WANTED. One of the readers of this blog is in need of a circuit closer lever on an old Original he is working on. Condition isn’t important, because the plating is worn from most of the key’s upper parts anyway. Contact me and I’ll put you in touch the the gent.
WISH ME LUCK. We have some significant winter weather heading our way Thursday night, with the possibility of major icing in our area. My inverted Zepp has survived past ice storms, so cross your fingers it will do so again. That reminds me, I need to test the generator tomorrow.
73 es CUL … de KY4Z SK … dit dit …