[CW] Speed-X 114-520 feet

[n7dc at comcast.net]

I forgot to mention about the key itself.  It has three feet, and they are  screwed on from the bottom, and the hole does not go completely thru the base. Two on the front corners, and one in the middle of the back end.   Pretty sure these are original, as it appeared almost new when I got it. The screws have a slot that goes almost all the way across the end, and fairly wide fit for flat screw drivers.  
 The one thing I dont like is its speed.  No matter how many weights I add to the length, it simply will not key dits slow enough.  I "cure" that, half way, by setting the spaces extra wide so there is lots of bounce.  I hear them on the air, and its almost pathetic to hear keying at 80 wpm dits, and 20 wpm dashes. 

The only keyer I actually use is the on built in to the rig and that with the keyboard/computer, or the Iambic key.   

I think the Vibroplex is about the same age as yours, as someone looked at the SN listing someplace, and said it was built during the war.  There were apparently thousands of them on shelves at the end of the war, and became surplus. It was issued to me in Ethiopia, on my second (civilian) tour there after I proved to them I could send 25 wpm or better with it.  I sat on the very last CW circuit between the commo site and an embassy in Africa, and they said keep it.  
Danny


N7DC at ARRL.NET
Ex WN5QMX,WA5UKR,ET2US,ET3USA,SV0WPP,VS6DD,N7DC/YV5/G5CTB
QSL Bureau, DIRECT, LOTW Preferred, eQSL used but upload at a courtesy only, as do not use the system for awards.


> On April 17, 2018 at 8:05 PM Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>     I've seen metal feet too. My key was made in 1944 and I think 
> the case was original. The original feet pretty much 
> disintegrated. I have to go by memory but think they were tack on 
> and were replace by the same. I have also see similar feet with 
> wood screw threads on them. Mine also has a green felt liner. 
> I've tried to find other cases but on ebay the prices of the 
> reasonable ones always jumped to unreasonable at the last second 
> so I gave up on it. The outside of mine is black textured 
> material but not leather. Probably "leatherette". Mine also has a 
> label with 833 Broadway on it. I think they were there for quite 
> a while. I have never been comfortable with a keyer and prefer a 
> bug or straight key.
>     I don't think a different key would help me as much as better 
> antennas.
> 
> On 4/17/2018 4:01 PM, n7dc at comcast.net wrote:
> > Just took a look at my old original black leather case, with a green pool table looking liner.  Four black painted metal feet on it, but cant tell how they are attached, since cant see their inside-the-case connections since they are covered by the fabric. It was old when I was issued it back sometime around 1968.
> > 
> > The serial number of the Vibroplex , 175333 with the copper plate, and the 833 Broadway New York, NY on the heavy black base.    It is sitting here hooked up to the Kenwood TS570s, parallel with the Navy flameproof pump.  Still try to use it once or twice a day, but mostly now its an Iambic Key Paddle that gets used, and also DXLab Winwarbler with the keyboard thru the computer.  That combo has been with me since the mid 60s, except the Iambic which I got about 20 years ago.  They have gotten me 9 band DXCC,and 9 band WAS here, plus DXCC and WAS in at least 3 other countries.  They knew how to build things, way back when.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> WB6KBL
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> =30=