A couple of pre-eBay moratorium purchases finally arrived today, both of them semi-automatic bugs.
The first was a mint-in-the-box Lafayette version of the Japanese Skillman “coffin” bug. This key was not only spotless, but it included the original box and instructions. Unfortunately this key was a lesson in just how tricky bugs can be for someone who isn't familiar with shipping them safely.
Anytime a bug arrives and I hear small parts rattling around in the box I get very, very nervous. Having had one of these same bugs arrive shattered in pieces, I was very worried as I opened this package. The seller had the key packed well in its box. The seller wisely even put peanuts in the original box to help pad the key during its ride to my QTH. The one detail overlooked was the keying lever.
On one of these “coffin” bugs, the pendulum isn't secure or locked in position, particularly when the cover is on. The cover actually prevents you from locking the weighted end of the lever down; most sellers simply pack the key (with cover on) as well as they would any other heavy, delicate object.
In this case, the damage was done by the weighted keying lever. I can only guess what kind of ride this key had, but the keying lever hammered the bug's damper so hard it broke it off the mount. In doing so, it broke a hole in the side of the clear plastic cover, hence the rattling noise I heard before I opened the package.
The damper wheel rides on a shaft, and that shaft is press fit into a flat metal bracket that's held by a clamp. The placement of the wheel is adjustable. The flat metal bracket can be flattened and the shaft and wheel can be crazy glued back in place. The cover can't be repaired.
I've e-mailed the seller about the damage, and I could push for a return and refund, but I would rather keep the key and take a discount. She may think I'm scamming her, but I'll photograph the damage for her. I'll be happy to send the key back to her, but I would rather keep it and get a discount on what was a fairly mint condition key.
This is the second Skillman bug I've had damaged in transit in the past six months. I know it sounds rather anal retentive, but when it appears the sellers aren't familiar with the proper care and shipment of bugs, I'll send them a list of requests, i.e., please remove the weights from the pendulum, etc., etc. I know it makes me sound like a nagging jerk, but it is better than getting a box full of parts.
On a happier note, my 1922 Vibroplex Original arrived unscathed. Beyond 85 years of wear and tear, the key was in good shape. I cleaned the contacts and have it operating nicely again. The key needs a new thumbpiece, and Vibroplex has the correct, old-style (triangular) replacements. The feet and other parts are fine, which is unusual for a vintage key like this that worked for a living.
The gold pinstriping has mostly worn off the base, but overall the base is in excellent shape with only minor paint loss. The original owner — Al Shuff — painted his name neatly on the bottom. The key has a very worn feel to it, kind of like your favorite old sweatshirt you wear on weekends. I have an extra “modern” oval style thumb piece I may use on the key for the time being just to get it on the air. That's the real fun of getting these keys — getting them playing again. And yeah, there's a bit of romanticism in it too … sending CW with a key that was built in a bygone era, a key that's probably outlived an owner or two.
FLOOD OF NEW HAMS. It's been refreshing to hear so many new hams on the air the last couple of days — and they've been welcomed warmly in nearly every instance. I heard several earlier today on 3960 kHz, the 75-meter hangout for a large group of Kentucky-area hams. From what I hear, there are more new hams coming too, so this may just be the introduction to a whole new era. Even our local club's 10-meter net had 3 new check-ins, all Technicians who now have Tech Plus privileges. It was a great moment to greet these new guys too!
I think there's something neat about talking to new-to-HF hams; it usually makes us recall what it was like when we were new too.
The most disappointing thing I've overheard since the rule change last Friday was a QSO Saturday by a couple of elderly hams on 40 meters. These guys were grousing not just about the change in the CW requirement, but the whole testing aspect of amateur radio.
According to both of these men, all Amateur Radio tests given after the FCC quit is fradulent. They talked about the rampant fraud and abuse that took place when hams who lived away from an FCC office could earn the “Conditional” license. From their viewpoint, nearly all Conditional tickets were moneymaking scams. The FCC's decision to let VECs takeover testing has spelled doom to the hobby.
These men — I'm sure neither of them has reviewed a current question pool — alleged the tests so easy anyone could pass. Their entire QSO was bitter to the extreme, full of venom and acrimony. How could anyone enjoy a hobby they have such a low opinion of? If I hated the hobby as much as these gents did, I would sell me gear and take up collecting stamps.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE TECH TICKET. A couple of years ago, the ARRL proposed the creation of a new Novice ticket that would introduce new hams to both HF and VHF. It appears that the new regs kind of make that new ticket a reality by giving no-code Techs a spot on HF phone.
While 10 meters is rather dead right now, it won't be dead for much longer, and new Techs will have immediate privileges on a band that could use some occupancy. I'm going to start getting ready now … “my 10-10 number is 43811, thats four-hundred and thirty-eight dollars and 11 cents. Back to you …. “