DR

GOING TO THE LINK YOU PROVIDED ABOVE GAVE ME THE LINK BELOW WHICH SHOWS A 1963 PRESENTATION MADE AT 833 BROADWAY WITH THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING.

https://history.k4lrg.org/Projects/bugs.html

PAGE 36 OF THE VIBROPLEX CO BOOK BY HOLLY SHOWS A 1948 PRESENTATION WITH THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING.

I OWN A 1954 PRESENTATION WITH THE ADJUSTABLE MAIN SPRING.  OTHER SOURCES INDICATE THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING WAS ON THE FIRST 1948 VINTAGE PRESENTATIONS.  FRENCH IN THE VIBROPLEX COLLECTORS GUIDE INDICATES THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING WAS DISCONTINUED ON THE PRESENTATION IN 1978.  ALL PRESENTATIONS AFTER THAT DATE ARE JUST A DELUXE WITH A GOLD PLATED PLATE ON TOP OF THE BASE.  THE GOLD PLATED BASE BUGS SIMPLY PLATED THE BASE WITH GOLD INSTEAD OF CHROME.

73
BENNY K5KV

On Sat, Jan 8, 2022 at 4:27 PM Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
    Thank you for this comprehensive history of Vibroplex. The
design of the Original and probably other models, seems to have
been changed c.1946 to use rounded rather than square edged
castings. I can't tell from the advertising available to me if
the "delux" and "presentation" models ever came with the old
style castings. I think they did not.
    A thought: Anyone who has moved knows that every time you
move something gets lost. I think this is true when companies get
sold. Evidently Vibroplex has lost a lot.

On 1/8/2022 12:03 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
> Sorry, Joe, that's not completely correct. Peter Garsoe of
> Portland, Maine discontinued all models of Vibroplex when he
> bought Vibroplex from the Albright family who had owned Vibroplex
> in New York City for decades. I know he reduced all the then
> current models: Presentation, Original, Lightning Bug, and
> Champion to just one model: Original. I don't know if he was the
> one that came up with making multiple finishes for the Original.
>
> I do agree with you that the what you have, "Gold Original, that
> is a gold plated bug and it does not have the La Hiff main
> spring, is exactly that: a "Original with a gold plated top".
> It's NOT a Presentation model because all Presentation models
> (being a specific model of Vibroplex) had the LaHiff adjustable
> mainspring. The later Gold Top plate and gold top plate and base
> (all gold plate) models (as well as the Blue Racer 2000, and
> Vibroplex Anniversary) were just Vibroplex Original models with
> different base treatments.
>
> Vibroplex calls the key you are speaking of "Vibroplex Original
> with Presentation finish" which Vibroplex now just simply calls
> "Original Presentation" to differentiate it from the long running
> but discontinued "Presentation" model.
>
> See
> http://vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d12_SEMI-AUTOMATIC__BUG__keys.html
> <http://vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d12_SEMI-AUTOMATIC__BUG__keys.html>
>
> Vibroplex has also recently introduced a "Original Standard
> Upgraded" model with the jeweled bearings. Craziest thing is they
> have left the top trunnion screw adjustable, just like when the
> Deluxe keys were introduced in 1948, but later that design was
> abandoned because of bearing damage by operators screwing down on
> the original type of bearings, which may have been garnet which
> is much softer than ruby. Rubies are 9 on the Mohs hardness scale
> while garnets are 6.5 to 7.5. (See
> https://indyfacets.com/blog/the-difference-between-garnets-and-rubies/
> <https://indyfacets.com/blog/the-difference-between-garnets-and-rubies/>)
>
> So maybe the new jeweled bearings don't crack and the decorative
> red piece will be discontinued in time.
>
> Peter Garsoe of Portland, Maine Vibroplex discontinued the
> previous threaded red decorative piece because making an
> investment casting for that part was (to him) prohibitively
> expensive. He replaced it with a domed red plastic piece that was
> glued in with Duco cement. Somewhere along the line, the stamp
> for the Vibroplex name plate was list. But the good thing is that
> these keys are still being made.
>
> The Original Deluxe first came out in 1940. The Presentation
> model came out in 1948.
>
> Short history of Vibroplex from
> https://history.k4lrg.org/Projects/Vibroplex_History.html
> <https://history.k4lrg.org/Projects/Vibroplex_History.html>:
>
> Horace G. Martin, inventor of the Vibroplex, teamed up with J.E.
> Albright in 1911. Albright was an entrepreneur who had been
> selling typewriters since 1890, and he readily took on the task
> of manufacturing and selling the Vibroplex instruments. Together,
> Martin and Albright formed “The Vibroplex Company, Inc.” in 1915.
>
>           Martin sold his interest in the company to Albright in
> 1920. During the late 1930s, after all the original patents (now
> owned by Albright) had expired, Martin began selling his own
> versions of “Originals”, Lightning Bugs” and “Blue Racers” as
> “Martin Flash Keys”. Less than 5,000 were ever built. Martin also
> developed a “Rotoplex” in the early 1940s that featured a rotary
> pivot mechanism, but that was his last known invention and only a
> few were ever made.
>
> J. E. Albright and his family owned the Vibroplex Company until
> sometime around 1965 when it was sold to John La Hiff, a
> mechanical engineer and long-time company employee who was the
> designer of the “assembled frame” instruments (the No. 6 or
> “Lightning Bug”, the “Zephyr”, and the “Champion”) and probable
> designer of the “Presentation.” La Hiff’s sons sold the company
> to Peter Garsoe in 1979 and it was moved to Portland, ME. Peter
> Garsoe sold the company to Felton “Mitch” Mitchell, W4OA, in 1994
> and it was moved to Mobile, Alabama. Mitch, W4OA sold Vibroplex
> in 2009 to Scott Robbins, W4PA, who moved Vibroplex to Knoxville,
> TN. (See
> https://web.archive.org/web/20091212094447/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11233/
> <https://web.archive.org/web/20091212094447/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11233/>)
>
> Current keys have name tags of the manufacturer but no longer
> have serial numbers.
>
> 73
>
> DR
> N1EA
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 8, 2022, 10:16 Joseph L. Pontek Sr.
> <v31jp1957@gmail.com <mailto:v31jp1957@gmail.com>> wrote:
> NO, I am talking about the La Hiff adjustable pendulum spring
> was probably only made in Maine.
>
> I have here a Gold Original, that is a gold plated bug and it does
> not have the La Hiff main spring.
> On 1/8/2022 2:55 AM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
> Joe,
>
> The Presentation model came out just after WWII. It was made in
> Brooklyn. When Vibroplex was sold to Mr. Garsoe of Portland,
> Maine, he stopped the production of Presentation, Blue Racer,
> Lightning Bug and Champion models, leaving only the Original
> model. I don't know if was Mr. Garsoe or, Shelley "Mitch"
> Mitchell, W4OA who started up the various finishes of the
> Original model: 1) Standard, 2) Deluxe 3) Blue Racer (blue base),
> 4) Blue Racer (chrome base), and 5) Presentation models. Later
> they added the 6) Presentation All Gold Plated model!
>
> The Presentation you're thinking of, Joe, is the Original
> Presentation finish.
>
> All the top parts are Original model parts, no smaller scale
> parts like on the first Blue Racer models.
>
> 73
>
> DR
> --
> 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,
> Facebook: Joe Pontek
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--
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1@ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL
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