As my avatar at the right side of this screen will attest, I am a fancier of semi-automatic bugs — including Vibroplex bugs. I recently purchased a 1905 first year of production Vibroplex key, and I'm still tickled to death — delighted that it arrived in perfect shape, and that it was also something I could afford to buy.
When Vibroplex's sale was announced late last year, I rushed to buy a new 100th Anniversary Vibroplex Original. The key was delivered in January, and though I don't know for sure where it was assembled, it was at the least one of the last keys ordered before the company moved from Mobile, Ala., to Tennessee.
Now the Vibroplex fans in and out of ham radio are all abuzz over a major change that new Vibroplex owner Scott Robbins is making with the shift to the Tennessee-produced keys. The trademark Vibroplex ID plate — which has been essentially the same for 90 years — is being radically changed.
Since 1920, the name plate has been stamped out of brass with the serial number stamped on the plate as well. During World War II, brass was in short supply, and for about 3 years the company stamped the ID tags from tin and painted them to look like brass. And during the years the keys were manufactured in Maine, they moved from rivets to glue to attach the name plates to the base (a practice that ended when the company was moved to Ala.).
There's no other way to describe the new nameplate other than “cheap.” It appears to be brushed aluminum with cheap silkscreening. Even the bug logo has lost its detail on these new nameplates (compare the bug in the photo with my avatar).
I heard about it on a morse code mailing list frequented by collectors and those who enjoy using bugs. The story goes that a student of one of the guys on the list ordered new keys from Vibroplex and received keys with the new nameplate.
When he e-mailed the owner about the nameplates and allegedly the exchange took a nasty turn, with the new owner saying he didn't care what anyone thought about the new nameplates, they were much cheaper to produce. The Vibroplex web site doesn't show keys with the new nameplates.
Judge for yourself. The new nameplate is a decidedly cheaper looking alternative that really doesn't look as good as the one its replacing. I had considered buying a 100th Anniversary Bug with the jeweled movements, but I won't think about it if I have to accept one with that crappy looking nameplate.
He should offer the brass nameplate as an extra-cost item in order to let those who care buy one. I would gladly pay an extra $25 for the nicer nameplate.
Part of the problem may be the cost of manufacturing new dies to stamp the tags. Still worthwhile to me to do so, though he knows how many keys he has sold since taking ownership versus his investment in the purchase of the company. If he's cutting corners like this, he may be trying to cut costs all the way around.
DAYTON HAMFEST. A wrapup of new “stuff” that was highlighted in an article on the ARRL web site included the fact that Vibroplex was going to offer the 'antiqued” paint scheme found on the 100th Anniversary Bug on other Vibroplex keys. I have checked the web site regularly, but have not found anything on the web site about this. In fact, the article on the web site is the only mention I have heard of this.
I would like to buy a Vibroplex Iambic paddle in that paint scheme, but not with that gawd awful nameplate. Some collectors are already writing off the company, but hopefully it won't come to this. Maybe my dream of owning all or a part of the company may come true sooner than I think!
73 de KY4Z … dit dit