Tuesday, May 24, 2011 — I haven’t had much time to do much in the shack, though I did take time to document another bug or two.
Tonight’s victim was found under the desk on top of a box — a 1958 Vibroplex Original DeLuxe, SN 204,035. I have had this key for quite a while, but it was never entered into my collection list found elsewhere on this site.
I rant his key for a while as my default Vibroplex bug until I later moved to McElroy bugs as my key of choice. This key, as you can see in the photos, is an unremarkable Original DeLuxe that is in pretty good shape — save for the base.
The chrome base is pitted and has rust popping up beneath the chrome all over the surface. The top parts are in excellent condition. It’s one of the “10-foot Keys” because it looks pretty good from 10-feet away. And it plays very, very well. No damage, nothing bend, broken, spindled or mutilated. I hooked it up and it was ready to play immediately. The rust and corrosion damage to the base is very evident if you click and enlarge the photos.
I bought the key worth the money expressly for the purpose of being my “daily driver” bug. I have considered plunking down the cash for a new chrome base — $70 the last time I checked. If I did that, I would have a key that is basically as good as brand, spanking new. I’ve considered calling Scott up to see if his folks could rivet the original serial number plate to a new base. Actually, the nameplates are pinned, but the pins are press-fit and difficult at best to extract without ruining the thin brass nameplate. The holes for the pin run all the way through the base, so you can hammer them out if you’re careful. But do I need to spend $70 to have a like-new 1958 Vibroplex? The base makes absolutely NO difference in how it plays … I’ll keep telling myself that, too, lol! It would still be cheaper than buying a new Original DeLuxe (now I sound like I’m justifying it to my wife!).
It’s a shame the base has deteriorated so much; I’m not sure why some of this vintage are in great shape and some are terrible. Location? Humidity? Storage?
Until I looked in my database for this key I had forgotten another 1958 Original DeLuxe I own that has a chrome base that’s total trash. That key came from the Florida coastal area; I cleaned salt residue from the key when I was disassembling it. Hell, the key could have been underwater for months for all I know.
The top parts on that key are very good, just the base was trashed. I disassembled the key with plans of stripping the base and refinishing it with a black japanned finish, like found on the 100th Anniversary bug. The base is still here, I just need to go back to work on it, lol.
SPEAKING OF REFINISHING PROJECTS. I have a couple of very nice Speed-X 501 bugs in my possession, and two need the bases refinished. I wish there was an easy way to duplicate the crinkle finish on these keys. There’s crinkle finish paint in a spray can that works pretty well, though the crinkles are a big more coarse than I like. I need to experiment more with it. You’ll see the results right here.
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