1905 Vibroplex Original - the first Vibroplex
Between 1905 and the late Thirties, Vibroplex made eight models: the Original, Dual Lever, Model X, #4 Blue Racer, Upright, Midget, #6 Lightning Bug, and the Martin Junior. By 1940, when Vibroplex introduced two new models, only four remained: the Original, #4 Blue Racer, #6 Lightning Bug and Junior, and the Junior was on its way out.
The four discontinued models , the Dual Lever, Model X, Upright and Midget, all had slightly different mechanisms, and are probably the most interesting to collectors. The other four models used either the same type of mechanism used in the Original, or the newer variation used in the #6 Lightning bug.
1905 Vibroplex Original - the first Vibroplex
The Vibroplex pictured on the right has the number "7" stamped on the right edge, about an inch from the front. The first model Vibroplex pictured on Page 6 of Bill Holly's book has the number "43" stamped in the same place. Although it may never be proven, it is likely that this is the seventh Vibroplex ever made.
Original
The primary mechanical changes were a change in the pivot hinge mechanism from a “pinned-lever” mechanism to a much simpler “bent lug” design in 1923, and a move to more modern-looking rounded frame and damper castings late in WW2. Some Originals from about 1913 have a flat-topped damper casting, and for a while around 1920, a T-shaped damper was used on the Original, Model X and Dual Lever bugs.
For a while around the early Thirties the base was also available in red, green and blue, and in 1939 Vibroplex changed the base finish to black crackle, which they called a “crystal” finish. The standard base finish for all models was changed to gray crackle in the early Fifties, and that remained the standard base finish for forty years until it was recently changed to a black powder-coat finish after Vibroplex was moved to Alabama.
In about 1939, Vibroplex introduced the “Deluxe” version of the Original, Blue Racer and Lightning Bug, which included a chrome-plated base, jeweled bearings, and new-style red plastic fittings. However, chrome was scarce during WW2, and the chrome-plated base was temporarily replaced by a dark gray base, sometimes called “battleship gray.” These are referred to as “WW2 Deluxe” Vibroplexes. They can be identified by four characteristics: (1) dark “battleship gray” base paint, (2) jeweled bearings, (3) red fittings, and (4) a small copper braid from the lever to the frame.
Just after Vibroplex moved to Maine in the late Seventies, the keys they still made at the time (Original, Lightning Bug and Champion) were produced with dusty reddish brown (Sienna brown) and beige bases.
Pictured above: Black Japanned Original #51730. The bug pictured with a flat-topped damper is #20684, and the bug pictured with a T-bar damper is #75692.
Double Lever
The second Vibroplex model had separate dot and dash levers, and is called the “Double Lever”, “Dual Lever” or “Twin Lever.” Production of the Double Lever began in 1907, when Horace G. Martin was in Norcross, Georgia. The Double Lever was available until about 1926, although very few were probably sold after about 1920.
There are three main variations of the Double Lever. Norcross Double Levers have a “half frame” design. Later models have a squared-off full frame, and still later models have a rounded full-frame design with the inside cut out in a cloverleaf design.
The bug pictured here is a Norcross bug with no serial number. Norcross Vibroplexes were made with both thick and thin bases -- this bug has a thick base. The later Double Lever with the cloverleaf frame is #74495.
Model X
The Model X was the third Vibroplex model, and has a single contact for both dots and dashes. The Model X is based on two patents that Martin filed in 1911 and received in 1912 (numbers 1,042,457 and 1,043,449. Production began in 1911 and continued until about 1923.
Two main variations of the Model X exist. The first and most common variety has a square pendulum rod, a rather complex mechanism, and a T-shaped damper assembly. In about 1919 the “Improved X” was introduced with a simplified mechanism and a round pendulum. The damper assembly on most “Improved X” bugs is certainly not improved. It is simply a adjustable screw with no moving damper wheel. A few of the “Improved X” bugs made around 1920 have a modernized T-damper.
The square pendulum bug pictured here is #25095, and the round pendulum bug is #68638.
#4 Blue Racer
In most cases, the telegrapher’s employer provided a straight key for the telegrapher to use. If the telegrapher wanted to use a bug he (or she -- female telegraphers were not uncommon) had to provide his or her own bug. Many carried it back and forth to work with them, and an Original not only weighed four pounds but also took a lot of room on the operator’s desk.
As a result, Martin introduced the fourth Vibroplex in 1914. It had a base that was 2.5” wide compared to the 3.5” of the Original, weighed about a pound and a half less, and had a frame which was a smaller version of that used on the Original. The damper assembly resembled the letter “U” with a damper wheel on one leg. This key was also called the “#4”, since it was the fourth Vibroplex model.
Many early Blue Racers were made with a dark blue base rather than the black base used on the Original. A nickel-plated base was also an option. Any Vibroplex with a 2.5” wide base is a Blue Racer. However, the Blue Racer was also available (by special order) on the standard 3.5” base, and several have been found with a 3” base.
Late in WW2, Vibroplex modernized the design with rounded castings, and the damper assembly was changed from the “U” damper to the modern “L” damper. The Blue Racer was made until the mid-Sixties. Most collectors call the early “U” damper bugs the “#4 Blue Racer” and the later “L” damper bugs the “late Blue Racer.”
Around 1940, the standard base finish was changed to black crackle, and the Deluxe version became available. The #4 Blue Racer was also made in the WW2 Deluxe version. WW2 Deluxe #4 Blue Racers are very hard to find -- only ten or fifteen are in collections at the moment.
The bug pictured here is #137752, a WW2 Deluxe version. Other pictures are of #121916, an early chrome-base Deluxe and #112261, a black crackle base bug.
Upright
In 1917, Martin started making the Upright, or Vertical model, described in U.S. Patent 1,260,008. It’s easy to see why he called it the Upright, because it was designed to stand up on the operator’s desk, thereby saving space. A typical telegrapher’s desk was very small and space was definitely at a premium. Since the lead telegrapher, or “wire chief” presumably had even more paper on his desk, the Upright is sometimes called the “Wire Chief’s Special.” The Upright uses a modified version of the Model X’s single-contact design, mounted on a narrow upright casting which is itself mounted on a U-shaped base. The casting is finished in black crackle, and the base is nickel-plated.
Unfortunately, the Upright was a lousy bug, and it was discontinued in 1919. That probably explains why the Upright is the second-rarest Vibroplex. On most Uprights the damper assembly is an integral part of the casting, but a few have a separate U-shaped damper piece.
This is Upright #59672.
Midget
The Midget is the rarest Vibroplex. Only about four are known for sure to exist, although one or two others are rumored to exist. The Midget was designed to be the ultimate small, light Vibroplex. It has a conventional split-lever design with a simple vertical post pivot and a solid damper post. The Midget was advertised from 1918 to 1920 without much apparent success. The two known midgets are in the collections of John Elwood, WW7P, and Russ Kleinman, WA5Y.
#6 (Lightning Bug)
Somewhere along the line the Vibroplex model numbering system went haywire, maybe because they wanted to forget about the Midget. The #6, or Lightning Bug, was actually the seventh Vibroplex model. It was introduced in about 1926 or 1927 and was manufactured until Vibroplex moved to Maine in 1979.
The Lightning Bug was a significant departure from previous models. The frame was no longer cast, but was assembled from two triangular plates and two vertical cylinders. The damper asssembly was made from two vertical cylinders and a flat cross-plate with a damper wheel suspended from it. This damper is called the “M” damper. Lastly, the pendulum was a thin flat bar, and a cubical speed weight was used.
The first Lightning Bugs were available with black Japanned (standard) and nickel-plated (optional) bases. From about 1929 to 1936 the Lightning Bug, Blue Racer and Original were available with red, blue and green base finish. These colored bugs have been found with both smooth and crackle finish. Some of the smooth-finish bugs have the color only on the top of the base, and some have it on the sides. The color seems to have been applied on top of a standard black Japanned finish. These colored Vibroplexes are quite scarce, and there is currently no agreement about which finishes are authentic.
The standard finish of the Lightning Bug was changed to black crackle about 1940 and then to gray crackle in the mid-Fifties. The Deluxe version of the Lightning Bug was popular, and the WW2 Deluxe version can also be found. Just before the Lightning Bug was discontinued about 1980, some were made with Sienna Brown and beige crackle base finish.
The bug pictured here is in outstanding condition for one made in 1929. This is #103464
Junior
In 1934, Vibroplex began advertising the “Martin Junior,” which was an Original on a 3” base instead of the standard 3.5” base. Except for the base width, everything else was the same as on the Original. However, Vibroplex had apparently been making the same bug on special order since about 1920. Maybe the early ones should be called the “small-base Original” but to almost everybody they’re a Junior.
Later on, the model was called the “junior-model Vibroplex,” and it was discontinued about 1939, when the Zephyr, Champion and Deluxe Vibroplexes were introduced. Late Juniors have a black crackle base, some with pinstriping, and it’s possible that nickel-base Juniors exist, although none are known to collectors. Colored-base Juniors were never advertised. One green-base Junior was found, but the color was sandblasted off because the owner thought it wasn’t original. Ouch!
Pictured is Junior #79566
Vibroplex, Lightning Bug and the bug logo are trademarks of
The Vibroplex Co., Inc.
Last modified: September 3, 2000
Copyright © 1997-2000, Randy Cole
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