Rare key makes an appearance, rapid disappearance …

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Well, the CW key bug bit me again this evening — with a very big bite. Checking eBay this evening I stumbled across a key that I failed to buy when they were first manufactured — the 50th Anniversary edition of the Vibroplex Vibrokeyer.

The key was released in 2010 and featured jeweled movement and a very special “retro” paint job that featured the base painted black with gold carriage striping.

The keys were snapped up by collectors before I could even call an order for one. Only 250 of these special edition keys were created. And in the years since they were produced, I’ve never seen one for sale on eBay — until tonight.

The key had a Buy It Now that basically was identical to its original list price when it was released.

Now the truth of it is that only own one or *maybe* two Vibrokeyers; I tried using a Vibrokeyer, but frankly, if I want a key that operates like a bug, I’ll just use a damn bug, thank you. I understand the development of the Vibrokeyer and how its a great transition to electronic keying while keeping the familiar keying pattern the same. In fact, some keyers offered “semi-auto” mode that allowed the user to create his or her own dashes manually.

Given the rarity of these keys, buying it was not a question; I couldn’t hit the “BIN” button quickly enough. The key in near-mint condition, and carries serial number 38, or as the Knoxville nameplate states, “50VK038.”

1965 MULTI-ELMAC CITI-FONE SS 23 CHANNEL CB RIG

CITI-FONE SS. Tonight to took fate into my own hands and tried out the 1965 Multi-Elmac CITI-FONE SS CB transceiver I purchased a couple months ago. I found an online CB parts seller who actually specialized in vintage CB power connectors.

The radio lit up and audio came to live as it warmed up. This is the identical model CB I owned when I was a 13-year-old. It featured all 23 channels — which was head-and-shoulders above my previous 2 CB radios — my Hallicrafters CB-3A and CB-9.

I had a Turner +2 microphone that I ran with it. The rig topped out at maybe 4 watts out, but I sure enjoyed have — for the first time — ALL available channels.

The rig is really in pristine condition to be 55 years old. I wondered if the capacitors were going to hold but went ahead and tested fate.

The rig uses a series of crystals that are multiplexed to synthesize the necessary 23 channels. On my original CITI-FONE SS (which I believe my brother now has), I lost a crystal, and subsequently, I lost every third channel. But this rig, all 23 channels appeared to work fine. I tested transmit on all 23, and got good clear audio with the included hand mic.

But as soon as I completed the last transmit check, I heard a buzz in the speaker, the S-meter pegged and the speaker went silent. I didn’t smell any smoke however, and didn’t smell any hint of a failed cap or other component. Apparently something failed, and I think the caps are probably my first suspect (unless I located a part that appears to have overheated and failed.

I have the SAMS fotofact on the rig, so that’ll make troubleshooting easier. I don’t have a working tube tester, and it appears I’m going to need to pick one up sooner rather than later given the need I have to repair my growing collection of tube gear.

Before I powered it up, I pulled the covers off the CITI-FONE SS, and while the top of the chassis had some dust, the under chassis looked pristine. One thing I had to fix before I powered up the rig was the antenna connector — this rig, which was designed for mobile use, has a Motorola connector, and the center pin from a previous Motorola plug had broken off inside the chassis connector. With the covers off, I could push the pin out from the inside.

It was disappointing to have the rig quit on me, but I shouldn’t be surprised given its age. I may have to bug my brother about getting possession of my original CITI-FONE SS to see about making repairs to it.

MAC-KEY PICS COMING. I plan to get some photos of my new 1936A McElroy Mac-Keys in the next few days. I also have another Mac Key that as far as I can tell, may be one of a kind. Stay tuned!

73 es CUL de KY4Z … SK …. SK ….. (dit dit) …