I have two Vibroplex Originals.  One was made circa 1947, with flat black finish and  chrome plated mechanism. The thing is stiff and uncomfortable, and  contact bounce is intolerable.  I have tried numerous measures to fix the bounce problem,  to no avail.  The other one dates back to the 1920s, with the classic black Japan finish and gold stripes.  Other than the base and springs, all metal parts are  nickel plated brass.  It is velvet smooth, with practically zero contact bounce.  It is well-worn, with plenty of slop in all the pivots, which is probably what makes it comfortable to use, kinda like wearing an old shoe.  It’s now the only key I ever use.  My other bugs including the 1947 one, along with my  straight key, iambic paddles and electronic  keyer have all been collecting dust on the shelf for many  years now.

I picked up the 1920s bug at Dayton  sometime in the 1990s for a fraction of what bugs of that vintage were usually selling for.  It was a  severe basket case, and luckily none of the previous owners had thrown it away or cannibalised it for parts.  I was able to find or fabricate all needed replacements for broken and damaged pieces.  One of the Bakelite finger pieces was broken off and the other was worn concave from use.  It  was easy to tell from the remaining portion that the damage to the finger piece had occurred a long time ago, and all the nickel-plating was covered with a thick black patina.  I suspect it had been heavily used for decades at a land-line terminal in a railway station which would explain the severe wear, and the black patina  would be from years of exposure to  smoke from steam locomotives.  With due care, it cleaned up nicely, and works so smoothly that I abandoned my iambic keyer and paddles altogether.

Don k4kyv.

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John
Sent: Tuesday, 28 February, 2023 12:47

I have a early Vibroplex (circa 1906) and there is a small piece of telegraph strip paper glued  on the  front of the base, with the name "BELLE MARTIN"

I wonder if there's any relation to Horace Martin?   I know it's a stretch, still.....

SN on the damper frame is 1886.