Tuesday, March 29, 2016 — It absolutely slipped my mind a couple hours earlier when I wrote my last entry, but I have a new key set to join my collection: a 1920 Vibroplex Improved Model X.
This is the first Model X I’ll have the pleasure of owning. It looks reasonably complete, 
though the dot contact spring is a bit catty-whompus. I was watching this one closely because the bidding had stalled for several days at about $125.
The Vibroplex Model X began production in about 1911; the Improved Model X began production about 1919 and ended about 1923.
Unlike most Improved Model X, this one has the “t” damper with a wheel. As a bonus, the key came with a case in decent shape.
The key has a fairly nice condition Vibroplex bug sticker on the base; the label is the rather rectangular-shaped C3 nameplate with SN 78091. The C3 nameplate lasted through about 1921.
The key still has some of its original carriage striping, and the chrome looks good for its 
age. All in all, I’m very pleased with this find.
NEW OLD RIG COMING. One of the best HF rigs I owned (prior to my more “modern” rigs (IC-746PRO, IC-756PROIII and my Yaesu FT-2000) was a Kenwood TS-450S. It came with a couple of filters, and I added a couple more before I was done with it.
It was a very capable rig that gave me lots of enjoyment. I sold it in 2006 in order to buy the IC-746PRO. At the time I still owned a Kenwood TS-440 — also a good workhorse of a rig — but I sold it soon after I sold the TS-450S.
I’ve wanted to buy another one since the day I sold mine; the only problem is that the price on the used market has risen substantially. Its an interesting phenomenon when you see 10-year-old used transceivers selling for what they sold for new (or higher!). Yes, I wanted one, but never wanted one to spend $500 plus for one stripped of filters and antenna tuner.
I bought this one simply on a lark; opportunity knocked, and I jumped on board. I may play with it a while and then send its on its way, nostalgia isn’t away what its cracked up to be, hi hi.
73 es CUL de KY4Z … sk … dit dit