Saturday night, Sept. 24, 2016, 11 p.m. — I’ve frequently written about my need to go through my various and sundry collection of bugs and purchase the needed repair parts to make them complete and operational (without borrowing parts from other keys to do so).
For example, a couple of years ago I bought a 1958 Vibroplex Original DeLuxe on eBay that came with an original cord and wedge, but minus the finger and thumb pieces. The key has been sitting in my collection ever since, awaiting the discovery of the elusive “round tuit.” Me, procrastinate? Er, well … yeah.
Poking around the shack I spied that 1958 bug still gathering dust and still awaiting new parts. I decided to order the needed parts. Other than the missing parts the key is in superb condition giving its age (one year older than yours truly … come to think of it, that isn’t THAT old!).
I have ordered parts from Scott Robbins at Vibroplex, and they’re a quality supplier no doubt. But I have also ordered quite a few parts from Donnie Garrett, WA9TGT, whose eBay seller name is cfzepp-antenna. He sells a variety of Morse key-related parts, from bug weights to replacement finger and thumb pieces. I can tell you from my experience all of the parts he sells are of top quality. I purchased the needed parts for the 1958 Original DeLuxe from Donnie on Monday, Sept. 19 and they arrived Thursday, Sept. 22.
Donnie offers the red replacement parts as a set of two (paddle and knob) or three (the first two plus circuit closer knob). You can’t buy a new red circuit closer knob from Vibroplex the last time I checked, which makes sense because Vibroplex did away with the circuit closer in the 1970s I believe. As Donnie notes in his eBay listing, the red Vibroplex used over the years varied, and he has chosen the red that is very similar to that used from the 1950s through the 1970s. Well I can verify they are a good color match with other red plastic parts from that era.
Now Donnie’s parts have the same shiny finish of the original parts of that era too. New red finger and thumb pieces from Vibroplex are a somewhat 
lighter shade of shade of red and have a matte finish. Attractive on their own, but if you have a classic key with the original parts, new replacements from Vibroplex will likely not be a close match.
Anyway, Donnie has more than Vibroplex finger and thumb pieces. He also has reproduction finger and thumb pieces for McElroy keys — and God bless him for that! His finger pieces are perfectly formed and have the correct beveled screw holes for the Mac Keys’ countersunk flat head screws. Finger knobs are good matches too. He also has reproduction replacements for straight key knobs and circuit closers; pre-1940 Vibroplex finger and thumb pieces and circuit closer knobs; correct color replacements for the Autronic paddle; correct color replacement paddles for Brown Bros iambic keys; replacement J-36 bug finger pieces; weights for Mac Keys, and more.
As a collector, I try when possible to do business Donnie because I want him to continue to make these parts available.
There are others who sell replacement plastic key parts too — Roy (azroadrunner on eBay) sells a lot of Morse-related items including parts and paddles. I don’t know how many paddles I’ve bought from him in the past 10 years. The Vibroplex finger piece he sells can be modified to work on a McElroy Mac Key, and I’ve modified a bunch of those over the years. If you take your time enlarging the mounting hole and creating the bevel, the pieces can look almost as nice as the original.
PARTS ARE PARTS (AND MONEY). I’ve purchase parts from Roy, Donnie and Vibroplex, and never been dissatisfied. I think the key (pun intended) is to do your homework and know what you need before you select a vendor. Roy’s black triangular Vibroplex type finger pieces are $7.50 + $2.75 shipping (you can save on combining shipping for several pieces). Donnie’s black triangular finger pieces are $11.25 with free shipping (save on shipping if you buy multiple pieces).
If you need a finger piece for a Mac Key, you can modify one of Roy’s triangular paddles as I have done, or you can buy Donnie’s already perfectly machined paddle that needs nothing done to it for $12.50. For my money, I’ll go with Donne’s unless I have an extra one already I can modify.
And money can be a factor as well. The least expensive red finger and thumb pieces are from Vibroplex; the two are $16 plus shipping. I purchased a new set for the 1979 Vibroplex DeLuxe I acquired in February. The key lacked a circuit closer, so that wasn’t an issue. The new set looks great and the colors match. Unless you looked closely at the nameplate you might believe it was a much more recent vintage key.
ADVICE? (NOT THAT YOU ASKED FOR ANY). To my fellow key collectors, I suggest spreading your money around when it comes to finding 
the parts you need. Everyone has their preferences of course, but folks like Roy and Donnie make an effort to meet an important need for those of us who enjoy using and collecting Morse keys. I’m thankful we have folks out there who are willing to try to meet the need for quality replacement parts.
OPERATING DESK OVERFLOWETH. In addition to my 100th Anniversary Vibroplex Original that I’ve designated my “go-to key” at the operating desk, I have three Original DeLuxe keys at the operating position for the time being. The 1958 Original DeLuxe (SN 207,925) I just put the WA9TGT’s red finger and thumb pieces on; the 1970 Original DeLuxe (264,366) I purchased from the collection of K5VT; and the 1979 Original DeLuxe that had a good looking homebrew weight hammered on the weight rod I had to cut off to remove. I also installed new red finger and thumb pieces from Vibroplex on the key and because it is a Maine-era bug, I had to reaffix the nameplate. The three operate basically the same, the only difference being the weights on each one. I don’t need all three to remain on the desk, but I do get some satisfaction from at least giving them a little air time.
NEXT ON THE DESK? Well, I have no shortage of keys to complete and get on the air, including several J-36s that need repro labels affixed. All it takes is time and money, and I have more of the former than the later — the ham’s lament!
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