Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 — I was surprised to find my recently purchased 1977 Vibroplex Champion key in today’s mail. The auction ended Friday, and the seller had it in that day’s postal mail. The key had an attractive Buy It Now price, and while I quit defending why I buy the keys I do, this purchase was one of those deals too good to pass up. It is easily one of the nicer Champions in my collection. The key is notable in another way too … check the
positioning of the nameplate.
For most of its production run (beginning in 1939), the Vibroplex Champion’s nameplate was positioned at the rear left of the base. It appears in the years prior to being discontinued, the nameplate moved from the left rear corner to the center of the base, similar to the position for the nameplate on the Original and other models.
I’m not sure what prompted its relocation, and I’m not sure when the change was initiated. Obviously it began by 1977. Any other mid-70s Champion owners or former owners out there have anything to share?
The glue used to secure the nameplates seemed to have adhered better to painted bases than the chrome ones. On most DeLuxe keys of the era, the nameplates are either completely lose or nearly so.
My theory on the moving nameplate is pretty simple: Locating the nameplate on the left rear corner puts the nameplate in the line-of-fire for easy damage or snagging on passing items. With the nameplate in the middle of the base, it is less likely to suffer damage or get a corner snagged on something. I can only guess that Vibroplex felt there was sufficient money to be saved by eliminating the rivets. I’m interested in your thoughts on this as well. Opinions, facts, wild guesses all appreciated, guys!
In the meantime, I’m heading to the shack to get my new Champion on the air. It’s pretty clean and I have yet to do any cleaning on it.
73 es CUL de KY4Z SK … dit dit …