Saturday, June 10, 2017 — I’ve got a little bit of time before we head to church, figured it was time to update the ongoing saga of my latest acquisition of yet another 100th Anniversary bug (see prior entry).
After my rant about the damage to the key, I received in the mail a CARE package from Donnie Garrett, owner of 2B Radio Parts (the only place you’ll find replacement paddles for a great many out-of-production bugs and mores keys).
Donnie graciously forwarded the needed parts — new black thumb and finger pieces. I applied a little gentle pressure to take some of the bow out of the keying lever, installed the parts, and 100th Anniversary key, serial No. 100A-191 is generally as good as new!
Many thanks Donnie!
AND SPEAKING OF PARTS … If you collect Morse code keys, you need to bookmark WA9TGT’s website, 2B Radio Parts, www.2BRadioParts.com. Not only does Donnie carry a wide range of paddles and knobs for various keys (and in many cases he’s the only source for these replacement parts), but he also has hardware — knurled nuts for wire terminals, weights; screw kits for Mac-Key, Speed-X and more. If you have a need for parts, give Donnie’s website a look.
RARER THAN RARE? I think all of my key collecting friends are quietly and intently watching a current eBay auction for a very rare key — a 1907 Vibroplex thin-based bug with the articulated stabilizing leg.
From what I’ve read, the early Norcross bugs featured the thin base and the stabilizing fold-out leg. This key doesn’t have a Norcross label, but the A3 label with 5 lines, 3 patents, OP. It was listed as in “rough condition” but other than a missing circuit closer and lack of the original weights, the key looks might fine to me.
Judging by the number of bids — and the amounts — there’s tremendous interest in this key, whose auction ends tomorrow afternoon. So far, 13 bids have been submitted with the current bid of $910.
I will be watching this auction closely, though don’t count on my bidding (unless my Powerball ticket is a winner later tonight). I wonder …. would any of you collectors who are machinists (or related to one by marriage) consider the viability of having replicas manufactured of some of these uber-collectible keys? As somone who enjoys and appreciates keys, I would enjoy owning a replica of a Norcross bug, a midget or how about an Autoplex? Count me in!
73 es CUL de KY4Z SK … dit dit ….