[CW] A question on Vibroplexes

[Joseph L. Pontek Sr.]

While restoring older bugs, I have knurling tool, but trying to find
rope knurling dies is next to impossible. I was even looking into
making such dies myself. I was about to try making the dies when
the VA kept me in the U.S. for healthcare treatments, I never got
back to that as I do not have that ability up here. I rarely find the
rope knurling dies, used, and very expensive. (read-cost prohibitive)

The screw nuts are the most commonly lost parts, like at FD into
the grass never to be found again. 8^) Then replaced, temporarily,
with a standard nut, then another knurled finger nut, rarely with a
rope knurl. I have made those finger nuts with knurling dies I had,
then nickel plated them, but wished I could have used a rope knurl
die. I often looked for the nuts sold/available, but, unfortunately,
never with rope knurling. B^(

When I cleaned old gear including keys, I used warm water and
detergent, rinsed well with clear water, followed with alcohol and
finished with drying in a small oven for that purpose and for baking
new Japanning of a base, which takes several hours with an original
Japanning recipe, a type of enamel like used on the old automobiles.

The ones I did the japanning to had badly damaged Japanning, bare
metal exposed. Not a sign of heavy use, but being poorly stored and/or
abused.

73, Joe, K8JP/K5

On 5/22/2022 4:24 PM, John wrote:
> I really enjoy using my old Vibroplex's OTA (usually 40M) and have 
> several oldies dating back to 1914.  It's a lot of fun to speculate on 
> their history and I  always like to think the original owners would be 
> happy they're still making Morse.
>
> I believe  in carefully cleaning them so they don't stick to me and 
> are functional , but not much beyond that.  I'm working on a 1920 
> VIbroplex that was apparently owned by a heavy smoker. I'm removing 
> the slimy sticky mess with warm water, cloths and mild soap.  It'll be 
> cleaner but always look like a 101 yr old instrument, which suits me. 
> This slow cleaning gives me an opportunity to inspect the parts 
> carefully.
>
> One thing I've noticed is that there's often a variety of knurling on 
> the various hardware.  While I know that rope knurls were usually 
> used, several of my older keys have a variety of rope, diamond and 
> straight cut knurls on the hardware.  I'm guessing that this mixture  
> comes from owners making "field replacements" of missing pieces rather 
> than Vibroplex mixing their hardware manufacture process (I'm also 
> guessing they built, not bought their components) .
>
> Does anyone know ? I suppose the supply of NIB century-old Vibroplexes 
> is pretty low to check for sure, but it's fun to speculate.
>
> dit dit
>
> John K5MO
>
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-- 
Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Martin & Sidney Pontek
175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
U.S.A.
903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)

Member FOC-1743 Feb 2001, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP, CFO 1055, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
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