Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, 10:20 p.m. – Another rather rare bug that I snagged recently arrived in yesterday’s mail. This one is a Leach Speedoplex No. 2 semi-automatic bug, sold in the 1910s by the Leach Relay Co. of Los Angeles, Calif.
What makes this key collectible isn’t just the fact that it’s of uncommon manufacture; what makes the key doubly unique is that it is an “Albright” key — one of the many Vibroplex clone keys that J.E. Albright, owner of the Vibroplex Co., went after for copyright infringement.
Albright, who went to work for founder and inventor Horace G. Martin (he would later buy the company from Martin). Albright was quite a businessman — he won several lawsuits against companies who built knock-offs and ran advertisements in railroad and radio publications putting telegraphers and their employers on notice: If you use an infringing bug in your operations, we’ll come after you, too.
It was a bold move, and it was one that telegraph companies and railroads took seriously. It’s been reported that some companies banned non-Vibroplex bugs as a result.
Albright had devised an easy way “out” for those companies whose telegraphers were using non-Vibroplex keys; rather than force them to destroy their keys, Albright devised a licensing fee they could pay to Vibroplex.
The owners were required to ship their key to Vibroplex’s offices in New York where the key’s original name plate (if any) was removed, and for $2, a new tag would be affixed stating “This machine is NOT guaranteed NOR made but only licensed by J. E. Albright, 253 Broadway, New York.” These keys are known today among collectors as “Albright keys.”
The user of the key was allowed full use of the key. Not many Albright bugs show up on eBay, though some do show up from time to time. This one isn’t exactly pristine, as the photos show. I’ll need to add finger and thumb pieces to the key at a minimum. It’s a nice addition, something unusual that I don’t have.
There have been other unusual keys sold on eBay recently, including some really rare ones. I can’t afford to buy them all, especially those that have been more desirable — selling for $400 and up. A man has to know his limitations … lol!