[CW] Lightning Deluxe questions
Richard Knoppow via CW
cw at mailman.qth.net
Mon Dec 15 17:12:50 EST 2014
FWIW I found patent (USP 2187351) issued to John LaHiff
and assigned to Vibroplex that discloses a jeweled bearing
movement for a Vibroplex key. The drawing shows a Lightning
Bug style key.
LaHiff also invented an adjustable main spring, which is
shown in this patent. I thought he had a separate patent on
a slightly different configuration but couldn't find it. I
will try another search later and also look in my patents
file.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph L Pontek Sr via CW" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
To: <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: [CW] Lightning Deluxe questions
> Oh, I am going to crash shortly and hope I get a good
> nights sleep. I
> have another detox treatment tomorrow
> morning. I had two great night's sleep after the last
> one. I messed up
> texting, give me a key, so missed having
> another treatment this weekend.
>
> I now have great pictures with details of the Deluxe
> Lightning that
> clarifies much of the differences of the Deluxe
> vs. Standard Lightning keys.
>
> I may repeat some things here, but it will be in one spot.
> The Deluxe
> keys use jewelled trunion screws. These
> trunions have a small bit of jewel imbedded inside the
> hole and the
> arbours for the Deluxe have a more rounded
> tip that rides on the jewel. The Standard arbours are
> more pointed and
> the taper rides on the side/edge of
> their trunions. I have miss placed my document regarding
> these jewelled
> trunions, but it seems like they were
> ruby or red and later became green?
>
> Originally, the jewelled trunions were the same, top &
> bottom, and
> adjustable. What was happening, some
> users were over tightening the trunion screws and were
> cracking the
> jewels. Vibroplex then made the upper
> trunion shorter and put in a red plastic jewel that
> screwed into the top
> hole, covering the trunion screwed.
> Now, the red cover is just glued in place. That faux red
> jewel made it
> difficult to adjust the upper trunion.
> The feeling was, jewelled trunions did not need adjustment
> after they
> were set. I am not sure why the
> Standard trunions needed re-adjusting after being set. I
> think WW II
> vintage did have the same jewelled
> trunion screws, top & bottom, and no faux red jewel cap.
>
> Any bugs using the jewelled trunions should have the
> grounding strap. I
> just could not find any drawing
> documenting the strap, even with the Original Deluxe
> types. I heard the
> straps were dropped at one point,
> but I have no new Deluxe keys to look at. The ones I have
> seen, the
> pivot hinge is taped and the braid
> is attached there. I have seen the other end put under the
> frame and to
> a screw into the frame. The
> Lightning the same, except the ground end is to a screw in
> a tapped hole
> of the left round vertical post.
> I think it was Benny's photo confirmed that. I will have
> to verify the
> screw sizes used for the braid,
> but I suspect they are 2-56 pan head screws.
>
> Even now, some Lightning parts are no longer available via
> Vibroplex. I
> am making a replacement top
> triangle with collet for one. I have seen frame keys with
> those missing
> or broken going for dirt.
>
> The red knob and paddles were part of the Deluxe looks.
> Maybe, the
> black was used in WW II?
>
> When I got my used Vizkey 90° bug, it had a problem that
> it would often
> miss the first dit after
> making a dash. I put a clip lead between the dot bar
> (dual lever) and
> ground. The was gone.
> The TW has what looks like small brass springs wire going
> from the dot &
> dash bars and captured
> between the top triangle plate and the two support posts.
> I tightened
> the screws a little and the
> problem was cured. I am suspecting many bug dot problems
> could be
> traced to poor grounding of
> the dash/dot or dot bars.
>
> Thank you, guyd for confirming what I suspected and for
> the clarifying
> details. Lightning Deluxe
> keys are fairly uncommon.
>
> On 12/14/2014 7:27 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. via CW wrote:
>> Hello Benny,
>>
>> Your guess is probably a good one because the WW2 Deluxe
>> came with a
>> painted base, had a slotted trunnion adjustment screw at
>> the top - no
>> red decorative piece, but had red finger pieces.
>>
>> It looks like it is a Standard Lightning Bug - - check
>> the trunnion
>> pin. Is it rounded? If so, it is a deluxe trunnion pin.
>> If it is
>> sharp it is a standard pin. OK now look at the cups -
>> they should
>> either look like a shallow redish dish - that's the
>> deluxe bearing.
>> The standard bearing looks more like a hole much more
>> narrow than a
>> deluxe. It looks to me like a small allen screw - maybe
>> 1 mm size.
>>
>> Joe you have better technical language than I do. Can
>> you improve my
>> words and explanation?
>>
>> 73
>>
>> DR
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 8:12 PM, Benny Owens via CW
>> <cw at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>> HI JOE
>>>
>>> YES THEY HAD A GROUND STRAP OR COILED WIRE. THE UPPER
>>> BEARING IS NOT
>>> ADJUSTABLE. THE FAUX RED THING SITS ABOVE IT.
>>>
>>> I HAVE TWO DELUXE L'BUGS AND THEY ARE IDENTICAL EXCEPT
>>> THE FAUX RED BUTTON
>>> ON TOP IS MISSING ON ONE. THIS PIECE OF RED PLASTIC IS
>>> JUST DECORATIVE AND
>>> DOES NOTHING FOR BUG OPERATION.
>>>
>>> I HAVE A GREY BASE, BLACK HANDLED L'BUG WITH THE DELUXE
>>> BEARINGS. THE RED
>>> PLASTIC DOT IS THERE TOO. IT DOES NOT HAVE THE
>>> SHORTING STRAP AND WAS
>>> ERRATIC AS THE ONLY GROUND WAS THE DIT SPRING. THAT
>>> HEAVY STIFF WIRE THE
>>> SPRING IS SOLDERED TO WAS LOOSE FITTING INSIDE THE ARM.
>>> IT SOUNDED TERRIBLE
>>> UNTIL I ADDED A SHORTING STRAP. MY GUESS IS THEY PHASED
>>> OUT THE DELUXE AND
>>> HAD THE BEARINGS LEFT OVER. TO USE THEM UP, THEY WENT
>>> OUT ON A STANDARD
>>> MODEL. ONLY A GUESS.
>>>
>>> I HAVE PHOTOS OF BOTH I RECENTLY SEND SOME OF THE 40M
>>> RAG CHEW GANG SINCE
>>> THEY GOT TO HEAR THE BEFORE AND AFTER. JOE, LET ME KNOW
>>> IF YOU ARE
>>> INTERESTED IN SEEING THOSE PHOTOS.
>>>
>>> IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO ON THE HYBRID STANDARD/DELUXE
>>> CIRCA 1975 LIGHTNING
>>> BUG, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
>>>
>>> 73
>>> BENNY K5KV
>>>
>>> On Sat, Dec 13, 2014 at 11:38 PM, Joseph L Pontek Sr via
>>> CW
>>> <cw at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>>> With the Lightnings, the lower trunion screw is locked
>>>> by a screw through
>>>> the collet
>>>> in the lower triangular plate. The upper trunion screw
>>>> is locked by a
>>>> locking nut
>>>> turned down to the collet on the upper triangular
>>>> plate.
>>>>
>>>> Now, for the Deluxe I have a picture of, the upper
>>>> collet has the typical
>>>> faux red jewel,
>>>> but I see no other means to lock that screw. I am
>>>> trying to find my notes
>>>> about the
>>>> jewelled trunion, but not yet found. Maybe, it is not
>>>> needed. Also, did
>>>> the Deluxe
>>>> Lightnings have a ground braid from the dot bar to
>>>> ground, also?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Regards, Joe, Ronnie (Rowena), Marty & Sidney Pontek
>>>> P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
>>>> (Hopkins Village) Belize
>>>> 011-501-666-3564 Belize (cellular)
>>>> or
>>>> 5204 Texas Highway 49 W
>>>> Omaha, TX 75571-6474
>>>> U.S.A.
>>>> 903-434-9111 (My NEW cellular when in Texas)
>>>> 903-884-5990 (Skype telephone number, Belize & TX)
>>>> Also, K8JP, member FOC-1743, CWops-876, QCWA-LM21894,
>>>> OOTC-4607, A1OP,
>>>> SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819,
>>>> FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC
>>>> 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
>>>> Skype: v31joepalooka
>>>> Facebook: Joe Pontek
>>>> I am looking for Vibroplex Model X, Double lever and
>>>> prefer basket cases
>>>> to restore.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> CW mailing list
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>>>> =30=
>>>
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>
> --
> Regards, Joe, Ronnie (Rowena), Marty & Sidney Pontek
> P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
> (Hopkins Village) Belize
> 011-501-666-3564 Belize (cellular)
> or
> 5204 Texas Highway 49 W
> Omaha, TX 75571-6474
> U.S.A.
> 903-434-9111 (My NEW cellular when in Texas)
> 903-884-5990 (Skype telephone number, Belize & TX)
> Also, K8JP, member FOC-1743, CWops-876, QCWA-LM21894,
> OOTC-4607, A1OP, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819,
> FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977,
> PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
> Skype: v31joepalooka
> Facebook: Joe Pontek
> I am looking for Vibroplex Model X, Double lever and
> prefer basket cases to restore.
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> =30=
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