Hi again ham radio friends! It's been a while since my last update, but I have a good excuse — I had to have emergency surgery to remove my appendix. I tell my publishing friends that it feels like they removed my table of contents as well — I'm still moving around a little slower, but better each day. The stitches come out next week, and none too soon for me.
Immediately before going to the doctor for the pain in my gut, I worked the Peter 1 DX'pedition on 20 meters phone. I had planned to work them on 17 and 15 meters as well, but my date with a surgeon ended those plans.
Tonight is the first night I've felt like actually sitting at my radio desk and operating. I fired up the old Heathkit HW-16, and … no go! I'm not getting an transmit signal from the rig. I've had this intermittent problem a while … turn it on, no transmit, then shut it off and back on a minute or two later, and viola! — RF returns to the rig.
I imagine it is something simple, I just hadn't figured on looking at the problem tonight. I nearly tore into it tonight, but I figured I better wait. It's not like I don't have another rig or two to play with. If I'm not mistaken, I've got two other HW-16s in the attic.
I really like my HW-16. I plan to look it over this weekend and see what it might need to fix it before the hamfest coming March 4th.
I've gotten several new bugs at the shack, though I've not done anything with any of them yet as far as operating or cleaning them up.
I've moved my 1925 Vibroplex “WAR” bug from the spot as my main bug (it's still on the desk) for operating. (Click photos of the keys to enlarge.)
I've been using my 1961 Vibroplex Original De Luxe more. It operates very, very smoothly. The jeweled bearings really do make a difference in how smoothly a key operates. To its credit, the WAR bug has a very light touch, and I've worked to get it adjusted down a bit. By the way, since I shot the photo of this bug at right, I've gone back and cleaned it up and polished the base with Flitz. The WAR inscription apparently was not etched by hand, but stamped with some actually letters or a device to etch the letters. This solidifies my theory the key actually operated at the Army WAR site.
The 1961 De Luxe is an excellent key, but the chrome on the base is pitted. I would like to replace the base with a new one — simply for aesthetics — but it's $70 to do so. I'm not ready to shell out that much yet, but I probably should. It would make a nice key virtually perfect.
I have a later model Original De Luxe — about a 1990 model that was built when the company was located in Maine (it has the old glued-on ID tag). This key is absolutely flawless, and it makes you wonder just how many perfect Original De Luxe bugs does a guy really need???
Well, the 1961 De Luxe is my “desk” key. I would like to display the other one for now.
On my desk I also have the 1951 Vibroplex Presentation key I refurbished, serial no. 171086. This is a very unique key with a couple of interesting modifications.
I bought the key for $55, and it was in sore need of repair. The dot contact screw and the spring adjustment screw were both twisted off; it was missing the terminal nuts,the gold plate was scratched and the gold plating worn off in large areas, and the red trim piece on the frame was missing.
A machinist who works with my brother took care of the broken screws, and I ordered replacements from Vibroplex. The gold-plated brass plate costs $80, and I couldn't justify paying that much for a piece of trim work. Instead of replacing it, I bought some very fine wet/dry sandpaper and basically sanded the rest of the gold plating off the brass. I used successively finer grit paper, sanding it with lengthwise strokes, until the plate was a nice satin brass finish. I polished it with Flitz and it looks just great.
You can tell the plate isn't gold because it doesn't have the same “brushed” appearance the factory gold-plated piece has. Still it looks quite good, and it isn't as difficult to maintain because the brass isn't as fragile as gold.
Since I've refurbished the key, I've seen one additional Presentation key for sale on eBay that had given similar treatment to the gold plate. The seller did not disclose that fact and may not have known it. The key sold well.
This Presentation key is fitted with a unique pre-loading device on the dot contact. I've not seen this sort of device on bug other than the MAC-KEY bugs manufactured by Ted McElroy. Several of his models featured a wire arm that preloaded tension on the dot contact. A former owner modified the dot contact holder to include a screw mount for the preloader.
Does the device work?
It seems to create cleaner dits that a key without the device, but I don't have any proof beyond what I “feel” when I use the key.
The old Presentation keys also had an adjustable mainspring, which gave you additional range for the key's speed. I've not changed the adjustment, but from what I read it's nice to have to fine tune your bug. The newer Presentations do not have this feature (it was dropped in the 1990s I believe).
One the Pres and the De Luxe, the presence of the jeweled movements really is what makes a difference in the key.
I want to buy a 100th Anniversary bug, but I wish I could get it equipped with the jeweled pivots. I don't know why they sell a bug without the jeweled pivots in the first place. I guess that helps make the difference between the Standard and De Luxe models. Personally, I say put jeweled bearings on them all.
Speaking of Vibroplex bugs, I also have two Blue Racers on the desk, but not at the operating position. One of the Blue Racers dates to 1920, the other is a modern one (grey crackle base) from the late 1960s. These keys are faster than I care to fool with right now!
The latest bug to catch my eye is the VizBug.
What's the VizBug? It's the product of K4VIZ. It's essentially a Vibroplex type bug, but it's a 90-degree setup, similar to the old Mecograph bugs of old. I just discovered the VizBug, and I've fallen head over heels in love with the key. Now I need to figure out if I want to buy the special new 100th anniversary Vibroplex, or the VizBug. Each is about 2 bills, so they ain't cheap. And frankly, my wife will kill me for either one, I suspect!
The VizBug appears to be a very interesting key, kind of a one-off project done at home. It's all brass, and boy howdy, do I like the looks of it. I love the look of polished brass.
Of course, I'm looking at hamfest season coming soon. I would like to save some money for that, but I won't save much if I keep on eBaying. Sigh! I might sell off some bugs to finance the purchase of the two I would like.
Oh, and speaking of bugs, I scored on a selection of bug “parts” recently on eBay. The price wasn't cheap, but after taking stock of what I was getting, I figured it was well worth pursuing.
All in all, I received parts to nearly build a complete 1920s Vibroplex Original Standard. I also received some parts from a Champion, and some key knobs and paddles and a square weight for a Champion or Zephyr.
I needed the weight (a $25 value) for another key, and I can use the circuit closer for the zephyr I have (it is missing this item). The base is missing the ID tag, but it is the pre-1922 old style tag. I can use the terminal nuts on another bug that needs them. The contact screws will be useful on some other old bugs. I've got lots of parts, and the useful ones I could use right now exceed what I paid for them. Nice deal, eh?
I've got to slow up on buying Vibroplex Originals. I pick them up if they go under$50 or so on eBay. I would prefer to chase the rarer keys, like the Mac Keys. Trust me, I'll have my eyes open at the ham fests.
That's all for now, wish me luck on my HW-16.
73 es CUL, de KY4Z …. SK …. dit dit ….