[CW] What is a Sideswiper, or Cootie Key?

[Donald Chester]

Richard Knoppow wrote:
 
>     I have three "original" Vibroplex keys, 1920, 1944, 1961. The
> 1920 key is worn but works like a charm, very smooth. Still has the "Bug"
> decal on it.  The original knob and paddle were gone so I put Lionel J-36
parts
> on (found a bunch surplus years ago). The
> 1961 key was evidently never used. Seems like new. I forgot where I got
it. It
> has a gray base and post war type castings.

I have a circa 1947 Vibroplex Original; it is stiff and I never could get
rid of dit contact bounce no matter what I tried.  The 1920s Vibroplex has
mechanical slop in the pivots from wear, but it is velvet smooth, no contact
bounce and a pleasure to use.  I bought it at a bargain price at a hamfest
when it looked like a total basket case. I suspect it served many years in a
railway station; one of the finger pieces was broken and the other eroded to
a concave surface from use. No ham would have ever put that many hours of
use on a key in an entire lifetime of operating.  The metal parts were
covered with a black patina that made it look  like it had been stored
inside a chimney, probably the result of years of smoke pollution from
steam  locomotives.  I was able to clean it up, find replacement finger
pieces, and repair a couple of bent parts.  It has a beautiful "Japanned"
gloss black finish with the gold stripe round the edge of the base.  It
works so well that I ended up putting my electronic keyer and paddle away on
the shelf.

Don k4kyv


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