[CW] Military Bugs
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
Thu Oct 8 12:50:42 EDT 2020
I just looked at my Vibrokeyer. Its an early one. The yoke is
fairly thick and does not slide up and down on the main trunion.
I also looked at a c.1960 Original, same thing, doesn't slide or
wobble. There is just enough play so that it works easily. I also
looked at a Lionel J-36, which IMO is well constructed. The dash
lever is mounted exactly the same way. It has slight up and down
play on the trunion but no wobble.
The very early Original keys used a different method of
hinging the dash lever. On those there is a fixed bracket, two
flat pieces welded (?) onto the main lever. Its bored for two
pegs on the dash lever which form the hinges. My key is from 1920
and has had hard use. The dash lever has slight play or wobble
almost certainly from wear. I don't think this older method has
any advantage over the newer one. I am sure the newer method,
using the U shaped yoke, is cheaper to make. In any case, if
yours is new it does suggest some sloppiness in construction.
On 10/8/2020 7:51 AM, nemo zilch wrote:
> Vibroplex Vibrokeyer
> I recently bought one. It is fine, looks good, and allows easy
> adjustment. But one thing I have noticed is that the paddle
> has some up and down play, about 0.050 inches. Not much, but
> in my opinion, not representative of good machining practice.
> In all honesty I don't think it affects my sending with it, but
> I expected better from Vibroplex, especially considering the price.
>
> The play is due to the fit of the yoke, (the part to which the
> paddle is attached), upon the trunnion, (the vertical shaft
> upon which the yoke pivots). The hole in the yoke where the
> trunnion goes through is quite a bit larger than the diameter
> of the trunnion. I called Vibroplex and they said that this is
> normal and required for proper operation of the key. The yoke
> appears to be stamped from sheet metal and is not nearly as
> nicely finished as the rest of the key.
> Would be interested to know if any of you out there who have a
> Vibroplex vibrokeyer have noticed this vertical play in the
> paddle, and if you feel it affects your sending with it.
> Bob W4AOS
>
> On Mon, Oct 5, 2020 at 9:40 AM Chris R. NW6V
> <chrisrut7 at gmail.com <mailto:chrisrut7 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Loved "THEM" when I was a kid. Later - in the 80s, one of
> the first guys killed by the monsters -the actor - was my
> landlord in Southern CA. But don't remember the "bugs" of a
> different sort. I'll have to find a copy - and yes, ImDB is
> a good bet. :-)
>
> 73 Chris NW6V
>
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 8:20 PM Kate Hutton
> <katehutton at gmail.com <mailto:katehutton at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> I would say it's not worth paying money for. Just
> liked that they stuck the bug in there instead of a
> generic straight key.
>
> 73 Kate K6HTN
>
> On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 8:16 PM Richard Knoppow
> <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>> wrote:
>
> Its there but is for sale or rent. Giant ants
> eat everything.
> I have enough with regular ants.
>
> On 10/3/2020 8:06 PM, Kate Hutton wrote:
> > Remember the old scifi/horror movie "Them"? Of
> course the
> > radio op is using a bug ...
> >
> > 73 Kate K6HTN
> >
> > On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 7:54 PM Richard Knoppow
> > <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>>> wrote:
> >
> > Thank you. This explains the 1936 date I
> sometimes see. The
> > J-36 keys have various contract numbers, I
> think a separate
> > one
> > for each manufacturer but all dated 1942. The
> are Signal
> > Corps.
> > contracts. It would be interesting to know
> what is in the
> > contract.
> >
> > On 10/3/2020 6:22 PM, Thomas Chirhart wrote:
> > > MacElroy made bugs under contract for the
> US Navy in
> > 1936/37 and the base was cast with “property
> of us navy“ on
> > the left side of the base...
> > > 73 Tom K4NCG
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPhone
> > >
> > >> On Oct 3, 2020, at 8:05 PM, Richard Knoppow
> > <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>>>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> I hope on topic here. Does any one
> know if the
> > specs or contracts for the J-36 exist? Also,
> is the J-36
> > the first bug made specifically for the
> military? There
> > were about five different versions of the
> J-36, all
> > different. I don't think any were exact
> copies of the
> > Vibroplex Original. Since there has been a lot of
> > discussion of these keys on the SKCC list and
> since there
> > are some collectors here I wonder what I can
> learn.
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Richard Knoppow
> > >> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>>
> > >> WB6KBL
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> > >> CW mailing list
> > >> Home:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>>
> > >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>
> > >> Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>>
> > >> CW List ARCHIVES:
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>>
> > >> Unsubcribe send email to
> > >> cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>>
> > >> Subscribe send email to
> cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>>
> > >> Support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> > <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>
> > >>
> > >> =30=
> > >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> > > CW mailing list
> > > Home:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>>
> > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>
> > > Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>>
> > > CW List ARCHIVES:
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>>
> > > Unsubcribe send email to
> > > cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>>
> > > Subscribe send email to
> cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>>
> > > Support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> > <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>
> > >
> > > =30=
> >
> > --
> > Richard Knoppow
> > 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>>
> > WB6KBL
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> > CW mailing list
> > Home:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>>
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>
> > Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>>
> > CW List ARCHIVES:
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> > <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>>
> > Unsubcribe send email to
> > cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>>
> > Subscribe send email to
> cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>>
> > Support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> > <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>
> >
> > =30=
> >
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> > CW mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> > Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> > CW List ARCHIVES:
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> > Unsubcribe send email to
> > cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > Subscribe send email to
> cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> > Support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> >
> > =30=
>
> --
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
> WB6KBL
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> CW mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> CW List ARCHIVES:
> http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> Unsubcribe send email to
> cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> Subscribe send email to
> cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> Support this email list:
> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>
> =30=
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> CW mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> CW List ARCHIVES: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> Unsubcribe send email to
> cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> Subscribe send email to cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> Support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>
> =30=
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> CW mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net <mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net>
> CW List ARCHIVES: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/>
> Unsubcribe send email to
> cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> Subscribe send email to cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net>
> Support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>
> =30=
>
>
>
> --
> ==========================================================
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> CW mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:CW at mailman.qth.net
> CW List ARCHIVES: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/cw/
> Unsubcribe send email to
> cw-unsubscribe at mailman.qth.net
> Subscribe send email to cw-subscribe at mailman.qth.net
> Support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> =30=
--
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL
More information about the CW
mailing list