Thursday, April 27, 2011 –– In the past couple of weeks, my eBay activity has been pretty lukewarm; I’ve had no huge burning desires for much of anything beyond my normal eBay activity — watching the CW keys that are posted and checking out transceiver listings.
My wife — who is very aware of hamfest season now under way — brought home recently a gift from our church yard sale. She knows how much I love old boatanchor radios, and you can’t imagine my  surprise when she came in and told me she found a boatanchor and bought it for me! “Wow,” I said to myself, “this must be true love!”
What would it be? A Collins 75A4 receiver? A Hallicrafters HT-32B transmitter? A heathkit DX-60A? As she went out to the car, I asked if she needed help carrying it in. No, she said, she would be fine. She instructed me to close my eyes — this was getting better by the moment! I heard the shuffle of feet and the back door creak open and slam shut …. finally she said I could open my eyes — and there in front of me was a grey boat anchor … literally. A grey boat anchor.
????
My wife broke into laughter at my “WTF” reaction to this boat anchor … its safe to assume “underwhelmed” was an understatement. As the disappointment faded, I too saw the humor … I think … 😉
BACK TO THE ‘BAY …
I’ve picked up a few things on eBay lately … a 1947 novel that fictionalizes actual events that took place around my hometown in the 1920s and 30s; some 4-foot fiberglass tent pole antenna masts; and an ADI 2-meter HT for dirt cheap.
There were some bugs I have watched over the past couple of weeks, but none I cared to pursue; those I wanted to pursue were outside my price range. But one key I saw I wanted to watch closely lest I miss my chance to snipe it worth the money.
Of course, I’m talking about a 100th Anniversary Vibroplex Original bug that was recently listed on eBay. The key was clean and used very little. Of course, why buy yet another 100th Anniversary bug? Don’t I own 2 or 3 already?
Yes, I do. I have the one I ordered from the company prior to its move to Tennessee; I also have two others that were simply too damn mint to put on the desktop. The only planned to make a fixed number of these keys, and for whatever emotional reason (or lack of reason on my part), I just can’t put one of them on the desk for regular use.
The finish on the base — which mimics the old-style black japan finish — is fairly easy to damage … prone to it, in fact. The gold carriage striping is prone to wear quickly, just like the keys from 100 years ago.
You don’t see these keys listed often on eBay, so I usually watch the auctions to see what they bring; you can still buy one from the company, but not with the old-style ID plate.
So the key I began watching is a 100th Anniversary one in clean, good shape — and I think I can afford to actually run the thing as my main operating key — believe it or not, hi hi!
My main key recently has been one of my very late model Vibroplex Standard bugs; its a very smooth key, I have enjoyed it a lot. One thing is that the key has not suffered any damage while at the operating position save for some dust. Â With the very reasonable price I paid for this one factored in, I’m certain I can operate this key and not be concerned over the loss of its “collectibe” status (if any exists).
In the meantime, I have a shack to clean … but that’s to come tomorrow (or as soon as I get to it).
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