March 9, 2024
For the last couple of days I’ve been adding more code keys to my eBay listings, including one that’s been a favorite of mine — in an ugly duckling sort of fashion.
“Skanky Bug” was another eBay find — a 1945 Vibroplex Original Deluxe with a chrome plated base that looked like crap. The chrome plating was uneven and just rough as a damn cob. My original plan was to remove the plating and paint the base the classic pre-WWII black finish with gold carriage striping.
But when I looked closer, I realized what had happened. During 1943 and 1944, Vibroplex had to stop using chrome on its bases due to the fact chrome was a needed war material. So on the Deluxe keys of those years, Viborplex chose a special color gray they dubbed “battleship gray.” This color was designed to give the deluxe keys a special and distinctive look without a chrome plated base. I have several of these WWII Deluxe keys in my collection.
But Vibroplex went back to chrome plating in 1945. The plating on this key looks awful at first glance, but that’s not true — the plating is well done, its just that the base was not one intended for plating. They finish of the base was rough, not smoothly machined, and it was intended for paint, not chrome. So the base got plated and assembled. Either keys were in such great demand they company let it go, or the company’s quality control looked the other way when it passed thru their hands. Either way, its a unique key — one I hope will sell!
I have plenty more to list, so stay tuned.
73 es CUL … de KY4Z … sk … sk …. (dit dit)