NEW BUGS A-COMING!!!
Being addicted to semi-automatic code keys, you know that I'm always looking for new keys. I recently purchased a couple of eBay offerings to add to my collection.
The real prize is this 1920 Vibroplex Junior that I lucked into on eBay. I saw it the day it was listed on eBay and I bid the opening minimum bid — $99.99.
The seller had it listed simply as “1920 Vibroplex telegraph key,” not aware the key was the rarer Junior model. I bid on the thing simply to follow it, as I expect it to go higher than this.
No one else bid on the key during the balance of the 5-day auction!
Now the key isn't mint, but for a key 86 years old that had to work for a living, it's not too bad of shape. It has some of the original gold pinstriping on the base, and the nickel plating has worn off much of the frame, particularly the “shoulders” where heavy wear is typical.
I was surprised as hell to find that I had the winning bid on the auction ,which ended while I was in the hospital. It's a nice key and I'm looking forward to getting it here in my shack. It's my first Junior too. I'm still pretty amazed that I was the only person to bid on the thing.
The Junior Vibroplex had a base that was 1/2-inch narrower than an Original model. The real tell-tale indication you have a Junior is the brass ID tag. If the “hump” on the tag faces the terminals, it's an Original model. If the hump is next to the “dot” contact post, then you have a Vibroplex Junior model.
What difference did a 1/2-inch really make? Precious little, I suspect. It did give the company an opportunity to promote a “new” model, which it did. In 1938 QST magazines, the Vibroplex Company promoted the Junior as “a little smaller and more compact” than the Original. The black japanned Junior sold for a bargain price of $12.50, while the Original sold for a full $17. The Junior was quite a deal, since the single difference was the slightly narrower base. The Original De Luxe (with the nickel-plated base) was $19.
The second bug I'm getting I snatched off eBay 4 hours after it started for $60. Call me a sucker for a bargain.
This key is a 1958 Vibroplex Original Standard. It has a gray crackle base and all the chrome parts look really good. The base has some wear and showing some minor rust.
The way I figure it, I can refinish the base or buy a new one — or use it for parts — for what I have in it. Actually, I've toyed with the idea of stripping the base and making my own “retro” jappaned base key, much like Vibroplex is selling today. I'm not inclined to do that though, but its an interesting possibility. I didn't need the key — I've got several Standard Originals of the 50s and 60s — but I couldn't pass up a bargain like that. I could probably part the key out and make my money back.
The key isn't in bad shape for 46-years plus old. It isn't going to be a rare one to add to my collection, but I think I might have some fun with it nonetheless!!
_ . . . _
Earlier today I took my beloved Heathkit HW-16 off the shelf and opened it up, hoping to figure out why it had quit transmitting.
The problem was intermittent. Every so often, I would try the rig and it would show no power out on transmit. Every other function seemed to work fine.
I'm using my HW-16 with the HG-10B external VFO, so I'm not rock bound. I thought perhaps there was a problem with the VFO, but the spot function indicated that the VFO was indeed oscillating and injecting a signal into the HW-16. The problem had to be in the HW-16 itself, I reasoned.
On taking the cover off the rig, I found a slew of mouse turds in the transmitter side of the rig, There's plenty of room on that side of the chassis, so I suspect my mousey friends were enjoying the warmth of the rig. I cleaned the mouse turds out and then I reseated all the tubes and connefctors.
I hooked the rig up on the bench, and sure enough, it worked like a champ. I went ahead and buttoned it up, and it still worked once I had it back in place on the shelf.
Tonight, I wanted to work some CW — I've not had a contact since I my emergency surgery on Feb. 16th — so I fired up the rig wondering if it was going to work. It worked just fine!
Last night I cleaned up my 1961 Vibroplex Original De Luxe with some Flitz. This bug is the one that needs a new chrome base. Anyway, it sure shined up nice despite the pitted areas. The key's action is really terrific, though I couldn't find anyone on the air for a QSO. By the time tonight I got the key in place, it was nearly 1 am. I figured I would go ahead and call it a night, I have to get up early in the morning.
That's all for tonight. Hopefully I'll have a bug come in the mail tomorrow … woo hoo!!
73 es CUL …. de KY4Z … SK dit dit …..