I've been prowling eBay once again, looking to add to my collection of Morse code keys and semi-automatic bugs.
The last bug I reported on I recieved, and it's exactly as the photo made it look — rough! It's a very early Les Logan Speed-X bug with a rather rare De Luxe finish. The chrome on the base is really bad, it's coming off and peeling all over it. The upper parts aren't bad, but I'm missing a couple of things. The key is missing the dit contact screw and contact, it has no rubber feet, and the screws appear to be rusted pretty tight. I'm going to use some PB Blaster on them, so time will work on my side. The key would be fine if I replated the base, but first I've got to get it to the point where it can be disassembled.
In the past few days I've scored on several code key auctions, and I expect I'll be getting them in the next few days to a week or so.
The oldest of the three Vibroplexes I've won is a 1931 Lightning Bug De Luxe. The nickel plating on the base is a little worn, but not as bad as the old Speed-X I just mentioned. The key needs a new thumb piece, but that's not a problem. The key has two weights, which is unusal. Heck, I might be able to use this one without my homemade “bug tamer”!
I don't know what made me buy this key. It was a “Buy It Now” on eBay, and I had looked at it several times over several days. Just a weakness, I guess.
The next newest key looks like it could be a real turd of a key — a 1958 Vibroplex Original De Luxe. Not a bad key, but just look at the photo!
It looks like it sat at the bottom of my grandfather's spitoon! I don't know what all that crud on the key is, but I'm not certain all of it is rust. Looking at enlargements of the key, the crud isn't rust because it is also covering the ID tag. It looks like some sort of coating of … something. There appears to be some 
corrosion on the frame, similar to rust pits. I'm not sure, but the crud on the key appears to be some sort of splatter. The bottom of the key looks mint. It looks better than most other De Luxe keys this old, so I'm not sure how it corroded up the top but not the bottom. Usually the bottoms suffer more than the tops, but there's an exception to every rule.
Since I paid for it today, perhaps I'll find out more about this key in the next couple of weeks. I may have bought a real turd of a key!
The newest key I've bought in a while is another Vibroplex Original De Luxe — this is a 1991bug in excellent condition. It's a Maine bug with the glued-on ID plate. It doesn't have a circuit closer, which isn't unusual for bugs of this era. This key has the wrong thumb and finger piece — it's black rather than red. I can get replacements without any problem, though I've wondered if it was shipped with the “wrong” set originally, or if the owner preferred the black over the red.
The base doesn't exactly look so hot, but that's due mostly to the photo. I bought the key worth the money — less than half of the price of some other De Luxe bugs.
It's funny how the prices go up and down for Vibroplex bugs. I've seen some sell dirt cheap — for example, last weekend I missed a couple of Vibroplex Presentations for under $70! That's cheap for vintage keys with the adjustable mainspring.
Well, that's about it for keys. I'm continuing to prowl for more Vibroplex keys, though I'm not sure I'm in the market for a lot more 1950s-70s grey-base Originals. Hell, they all look the same and operate the same. They must have made a zillion of them — Champions too. I love them all, but I don't need to buy them all at $50 a pop (though they're a steal at that price).
More later, and I'll report back on the keys as I get them in my hands.
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