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	Page 8 Semi-automatic keys
Fig 1	Vibroplex Originals
Fig 2	E.F. Johnson Speed-X 114-520
Fig 3	Vibroplex Original Deluxe
Fig 4	Mc Elroy P-500
Fig 5	Lionel J-36
Fig 6	HI-Mound BK-100
Fig 7	Les Logan SPEED-X 501
Fig 8	Electric Specialty Mfg. Co.
Fig 9	The Dow Rotating frame Key
Fig 10	1939 McElroy Deluxe Mac Key
Fig 11	The 90 Degree VIZBUG
Fig 12	The Vertical VIZBUG
Fig 13	A REAL JOHN MERRICK BUG
Fig 14	A BUNNELL WW2 J-36

Fig. 1: Vibroplex Originals

SOLD

This one is a solid 4 lbs. and is 6-1/2" x 3-1/2". It is Serial # 66765. There is no Mfg. address, and no list of patents I date it to 1991. It has an L shaped damper with rounded chrome plated hardware. There is no shorting switch. The metal tag is "quite bare" of information.

Date your Vibroplex - Click HERE

HERE are the two "Original" keys side by side for a good visual comparison.

SOLD

This is a much earlier "Original (Std.)" with a black - wrinkled painted base, SN 127623 and plainly marked as having been made at the 833 Broadway, NY plant. I have dated it to 1944. Click HERE for a different view. You notice everything is squarer than the key above in Fig 1. The binding posts are certainly different and there are six (6) patent numbers on the plate. This key also of course is 3-1/2" wide, and has 2 weights.

Fig. 2: E.F. Johnson Speed-X

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This key is marked as an E.F. Johnson Speed-X Cat No. 114-520 Semi-automatic key. It was made in Waseca, MN. It weighs 2 lb 5-1/8 oz. The base is 6-1/8" x 3-15/16". It does have a shorting switch obscured in the photograph.

More Views:
View A, View B, View C, View D

See Fig. 7 below for more on Speed - X.

Fig. 3: Vibroplex Deluxe

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This is a Vibroplex Deluxe semi-automatic key. This one is a solid 4 lbs. and is 6-3/8" x 3-1/2". It is Serial # 382894. It is mounted upon a heavily chrome plated base.

Circa 1977? Deluxe bugs by Vibroplex had heavily chromed bases. There are also "Presentation" models that have a thin gold 'flashed' brass plate placed over the chrome base exorbitantly priced. I note now Vibroplex does offer a "gold" model where the entire base is plated. (I'd buy that over the so - so Presentation" version if you want to go fancy. I wasn't impressed with the plating on the Presentation "tin".

I've only heard one "bug" that sounded perfect. and it was an experimental "double bug" made by Richard Meiss.

Rarely, bug ops whom I have suffered to read knew how to adjust their bug and most failed to send decently with it. If a bug is adjusted right, and the operator is skilled you should not be able to tell it is
a bug. Hint, it is not "how fast I can
send" but rather "how well I can send".

Fig. 4: McElroy P-500

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This is a "Mac" P-500. It bears the generic metal T.R. McELROY, Boston, Mass. U.S.A. tag as shown.

This ugly duckling weighs in at abt. 4-3/4 lb. The base is roughly 6-1/2"x 4".

McElroy keys are quite collectiblealthough this one isn't as pretty as the deluxe model shown below. McElroy also made a series of teardrop shaped keys some called 'stream' keys.

Circa 1941 - 1942 ? Here is a link to a page devoted to Mac Keys.

Click HERE

Fig. 5: Lionel J-36

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The tag reads:

SIGNAL CORPS U.S. ARMY KEY TYPE J-36 ORDER NO. 7861-PHILA-43 1942 MADE BY THE LIONEL CORP., NEW YORK SERIAL NO. 16132.

More Views:
VIEW A VIEW B VIEW C VIEW D

The dimensions are Roughly 6-3/8" x 3-1/2"it weighs ~ 3-1/2 lbs. When Vibroplex could not meet demands of the Army they licensed Lionel and Bunnel to make these. Lionel is best known for toy electric trains. These are basic "Lightning Bugs" and were made between 1935-1943. These keys are very collectible not only for aficionados of "bugs" but for all "militaria" collectors as well, a subset of key collectors. The damage to the label is almost compulsory. It was made of a type of plastic that was affected by heat and aging. There allegedly is an aftermarket replacement label.

Fig.6: Japanese Coffin bug

Semi-auto bug without box and cover. Made more likely by Hi-Mound, formerly Dentsu Seiki, who so far has produced a series of like bugs. This one may be a BK-100. I've seen them with a gray colored tag, black tag and maybe even a white one.

Some have a flat rubber pad on the bottom, others have rubber suction cup feet (4). Construction really is nice. A hole is drilled into the far side of the key for the connecting cable to pass inside of the box.

I recommend you use a knife blade to gently pry up the corners of the cover evenly as the clear plastic cover is very brittle and cracks easily. Our Lafayette radio outlets sold them and maybe others. I've seen distributor brands like "Monarch"and "Calrad" also. Just a matter of re-labeling I'm sure.

Japanese CW ops aren't big into the use of bugs.

The instructions were written by a clever Japanese who almost, but not quite, had a good grasp on the language. In their defense they do a better job than most of us would writing instructions in their native language. I know I cannot.

Dimensions are 6-/34" x 3" - Abt. 2-3/4 lb. I found them quite a real challenge and awkward to actually use on the air by me. This one has two weights in an attempt to slow it down somewhat.

HERE is the insert in the box. TOP VIEW, cover removed.

Fig. 7: Les Logan Speed-X 501

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The "T-Bar" Les Logan SPEED-X 501, made in San Francisco, California. It measures 6-1/4" x 3-1/2", and it weighs 4 lb. According to the little I can dig up, this company began in 1927 as the "Electro Mfg. Co." in Fresno, later moving to San Francisco. It was bought out by a Stewart Johnson in 1933.

The name was changed in 1934 when it became "SPEED-X". Les Logan bought SPEED-X in 1937, and E. F. Johnson bought out the company in 1947.

SPEED-X lives on as W.M. Nye bought the brand in 1974. Got all of that ? This will be on the test. You can never tell when one day it might come in handy, like Integral Calculus has

Fig 8: The Cedar Rapids Bug

See the MARKINGS on the bottom of its base "Electric Specialty Mfg. Co. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The base measures 7-3/8" x 3", and the overall weight is 3 lb, 5-3/4 oz. A rather unrefined, unattractive key, the damper resembles a typing eraser.

These keys originally sold for $2.97 in 1939 and MANY WERE MADE so they are NOT hard to find or particularly rare at all. As a kit, buyers often painted it in many hues with varying skills.

Tom Perera's Telegraph Collectors guide states this key was the only bug offered in kit form. It was known as the "Radio Speed bug". It would need a Vari-speed attachment to slow it down. It was allegedly invented in 1936 and first sold in 1939, and was sold up till about 1955.

Fig 9: Dow , Rotating Frame

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Ex Murray Willer collection: The tag says: Dow Key, Made by the DOW-KEY Co. Warren, MN, U.S. Pat. No. 2481091 Serial No. 1854. It is probably one of, if not the most attractive semi-automatic telegraph keys available to collectors today. This key was designed by
Paul P. Dow, a Canadian citizen. Earlier keys were made originally in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, but this key was made after the family moved to the USA. The Dows went on to make other types of electronic components as the commercial usage of telegraph faded.

Seen in a gray wrinkled painted base, there were "deluxe" and Standard models patented by Lawrence L. Dow, son of Paul P. Dow. He was born in America. Another son, Gordon M. Dow, later ran the company after his Dad's death. More views HERE

The mechanism could be rotated over a very limited arc. Allegedly, this allowed one to make slight corrections in the angle perhaps on a ship or in an aircraft ?

Originally $18.75 , These sell today for over $350 on Ebay. A hard to find semi-auto key only made for an apparent short while. (1949 -51 ? )

4 lbs. 1-1/4 oz, the base is 6-1/2" x 3-1/2" and is chrome plated.

Fig 10 1939 McElroy Deluxe

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Ex Murray Willer collection: I was very pleased to receive this beautiful key I recently purchased on EBay as it was made in my birth year, 1939, making it 66 years old. It is in mint condition. The metal tag reads:

RADIO TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING KEY
(DELUXE MODEL MAC KEY)
THEODORE R. MCELROY
World's Champion Radio Telegraphe BOSTON, MASS. U.S.A. SPEED KEY
SERIAL NO. 3661

It weighs in at 4 lb 5-3/8 oz. The base is 6"x 3-7/8"and it of course has the famous ''Marbelite'' speckled finish which I must say exceeded my expectations. You really have to see one of these in person to fully appreciate them. If you want to read about the maker, HERE is a great write up on him.

Fig11: 90 Degree VIZBUG

The 90 Degree VIZBUG built by Tom Desaulniers, K4VIZ of Leeds, Alabama.

This semi-auto key features all brass and stainless steel construction with silver contacts. The paddle finger piece is made from a tropical red hardwood.

The VIZBUG weighs in at about 3 pounds. It is 2" wide x 6" long and 2-3/4" high at the top of the screw. The base is 1/2" x 2" x 6" solid brass.

This unique key is modeled after a similar design produced by John Marachini Merrick, VE3AUB / VE3AWA. More about John HERE.

My VIZBUG needed 'taming' so I am in process of modifying it by filing the flexible band on the shaft and / or adding additional weight. (Sorry, I am not a member of the VHS club).

Any "bug" is something one needs to practice considerably with before attempting to go live on the air.

Fig12: The Vertical VIZBUG

Vertical VIZBUG built by Tom Desaulniers, K4VIZ of Leeds, Alabama.

I haven't had this new vertical long so I am not fully versed with it. As I have mentioned previously, using a mechanical "bug" is an acquired skill -- first to properly adjust the beast and tame it, and then spend the requisite hours sending with it so it sounds reasonably like CW and not like a drunken woodpecker. How many do you hear on the air today that sound like "daahhh "Brrrrrrrrppppppp" (how many dots ?) and you have static, QRM, fading to contend with ? Please give me an old straight key any day of the week ?

2 lb 9 oz. of brass sitting on a 2" x 3-14" base. It is abt. 7-1/4" in ht.

I ordered mine with a 1" long weight to try to slow it down. I like to hear the dots, thank you. Even then, I have it run out full length.

Note, put this on a flat and a level surface as horizontal errors and mis-adjustments can really get you into trouble fast as if that weight favors one side or the other, similar to an unbalanced pendulum clock, you will develop this only by experimentation.

Fig13: A Real John Merrick Bug

Brian Willer, Photography

Ex Murray Willer collection:
I recently purchased this beautiful Merrick
bug from Brian Willer, son of the late Murray Willer from whose collection this fine key comes. It weighs right at 3 lb. It sits on a 6" x 3" x 3/8" solid brass base.
More about John HERE.

The action seems like it can be regulated
down to my speed, thus I might just try
to learn to use it. It really is a finely made
instrument, even down to the carved finger
pieces.

Fig14: WW2 Bunnell J-36

Signal Corps stamp on bottom

SC
1371
A

SOLD

A super find from Craig Roberts, call W3CRR. It came with a minty carrying case as well. Craig says his grandmother was the grand niece of Jesse Bunnell. It has a black wrinkle
finished base. Total weight is 3 lb.
6.5 oz. The base measures 6-3/8" x 3-1/2" X 1/2". As you can see in the
underside picture, it rests upon 3 rubber feet, and no fancy metal straps, just black insulated solid wire.
Action is fast - patterned after the
Vibroplex "Lightning". Not for the
slow speed net. :+)

The dark label reads:

SIGNAL CORPS U.S. ARMY
   KEY J-36
Order No.   6001 - Phila.- 43
Date 8-4-42 Serial no.    63
Made by
   J. H. BUNNELL & CO.