[CW] Speed-X 114-520 feet

[Richard Knoppow]

    I posted a thing on the speed of keys a day or so ago. They 
vary all over the place. I have three Vibroplex Original keys of 
various ages, the slowest is the oldest, maybe 18 WPM, the 
fastest is the 1944 key, maybe 25 WPM, the middle one is a 1960 
key, probably around 20 WPM. Same physical dimensions. It seems 
to be related to the stiffness of the spring. The 1920 key has 
had the most use and the 1960 the least use (looks brand new) so 
I don't think its from fatigue. The slowest key I have is a very 
old Speed-X, which goes down to maybe 15 WPM or even less. The 
fastest is a Bunnell J-36 which goes about 30WPM unless I put a 
couple of stair gauges on it.
    The feet on all the Vibroplex keys, and in fact all the 
others, is as you describe with three feet. They are held by 
threaded blind holes in the base. All seem to take the same feet 
although the original ones on the Speed-X were shorter than the 
ones I put on. My Speed-X has three feet but pictures of other 
early Speed-X keys show they had four, one in each corner. I also 
have a Lionel J-36, an exact copy of the Vibroplex No.6, AKA 
Lightening Bug. A very well built key. Slowest speed maybe 18WPM. 
Also has three feet but not quite symmetrical. Same as the 
others, threaded blind holes for about No.6 screws. This is the 
one I use on the air.
    You can date your Vibroplex by its serial number from the 
chart at:
http://vibroplexcollector.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/WW7P-Serial-Number-List.pdf
     I bought my first bug, the Bunnell J-36 at a down town 
surplus store (either Surplus Sam's) or J.J. Glass when I was 
about 13. Cost maybe $5. I used to use this on the air when I 
went faster than I do now. The store had some very shabby glass 
cases filled with surplus bugs. I think the military must of 
surplussed out tons (literately)

On 4/17/2018 5:39 PM, n7dc at comcast.net wrote:
> 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


-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL