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Author Topic: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???  (Read 336 times)

KZ5A

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Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« on: January 07, 2022, 04:41:38 PM »

I just acquired a mystery key and am looking for any info/opinions abt it I can get..   It appears to be a Left Handed WW2 era (42-45) Blue Racer Deluxe.  I can't find any reference to Vibroplex ever making a left handed U-Frame Blue Racer.

It has several  oddities besides having no Tag.   

The key looks a little prototypish...the lever is not quite square with the base, tilts down toward the damper.  Also the frame has grinder marks under the chrome.  The wiring is bizarre, the dot contact goes to one post and the dash contact goes to the other, neither is grounded.  There is a non-original hole between the posts, apparently for a Gnd wire.  I think the weird wiring probably came later in its life.

I have several pictures available, email if interested.  Gud on QRZ

Any thoughts ?

73 Jack KZ5A


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W3WN

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2022, 05:37:08 PM »

Contact W4PA.

As the current owner of Vibroplex, Scott should have all the records.  He can probably tell you a lot more about it.

Sounds like you have a rare, maybe unique, find there.
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N6TTV

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2022, 09:23:48 PM »

Hi, I saw it on ebay too. It sounds like someone rewired it to use as a single lever paddle.  I don't have any othee info for you. 73, Carl, N6TTV.
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KZ5A

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2022, 06:51:05 AM »

I dismantled the key last night to see what was under the dirt.   

The frame looks as expected, however it may not be a jeweled action, trunion ends are tapered but not "pointy".   I'm not sure what they are supposed to look like on this vintage but they don't look like the modern version.

The U Frame damper has been crudely modified for no obvious (to me) purpose but does work.  The wheel was relocated to the outside of the post.  Also the drill holes in the base for the frame are not even.

The dit spring slider, which I was assuming to be a nickel plated piece that had corroded, looks more like a piece that had never been plated except possibly with copper as in prior to nickel or chrome plating.

The frame was poorly finished before plating.  There are still grinder marks visible under the chrome in several places.  I don't think that is normal but could be a function of being produced in wartime.

I would be inclined to think this was a "homebrew" left handed action except that it definitely has a purpose built left handed base that pretty much had to be Vibroplex factory produced. 

I'm thinking now that it was a factory prototype for the first left handed Blue Racers.  That could explain the lack of a tag, the modified damper frame, and the sub-par finish on the main frame (from the rejected parts bin like the dot slider).

The enlarged center tag hole appears to machined subsequent to painting and could have happened "later in life".

The weird wiring appears to be a recent "experiment" and not originally part of the key.  Shame on whatever LID did that.

So I'm reassembling it today after cleaning.  I'm going to return the wiring to normal so it can actually be used, replace a few rusty or buggered up screws and the ugly dot slider.

Not sure but I think the option to special order a left handed BR first began with the L-Frame BRs post WW2 or it may have been later in the 50s.

This key very well may be the world's first left handed Blue Racer and only left handed U-Frame Blue Racer.

I expect to have it on the air in the next few days.

I took multiple hi-res pictures of the major parts while it was disassembled and would be glad to share them with anyone interested.  i also have multiple pics of the assembled key as received.

I would love to hear others opinions on this key.

73 Jack KZ5A


 



















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WA2ONH

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2022, 08:26:10 AM »

...
I would be inclined to think this was a "homebrew" left handed action except that it definitely has a purpose built left handed base that pretty much had to be Vibroplex factory produced. 
...
I would love to hear others opinions on this key.

I suspect this key was assembled by a ham using mostly Vibroplex hardware, a home-made salvaged metal base, and other loose terminals parts and NOT Factory made.

As for Vibroplex making any left-handed keys, see "The Telegraph Wireless World"
by N6TT site: https://www.qsl.net/n6tt/

See under "Semi-Automatic & Sideswipers" and select "Vibroplex" to see Pix of


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DESCRIPTION: "Here is a Vibroplex "Left" handed Original Deluxe, Serial number 160746 -- Custom made in 1948 for Raymond M. Huppee which is engraved down by the damper"
.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2022, 08:33:53 AM by WA2ONH »
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W2JJV

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2022, 10:40:48 AM »

I have a Vibroplex Deluxe Original Left Handed Model that I purchased from Scott at Vibroplex about 8 years back.  It was a trade-in with a serial that dated it to 1964, which was also the year I passed my General, so it had some significance to me.

It is all original and the only differences, as I recall, is that the base is obviously reverse design, the horizontal arms on the saddle have two holes on each arm.  Normally one side has a single hole for the dit tension spring adjustment, but on the lefty model a second corresponding hole was added on the opposite side, with the original hole being filled with a chrome plated, phillips head screw.  Also the shorting switch was reversed resulting in the "bent-tip" tab being on the wrong side so the switch cannot really close properly but can be utilized when needed.  I guess they did not manufacture a "reverse" switch bar. 

I would be curious if this was the same modification used on your Blue Racer.  I have a Vibroplex ad on the shack wall from the early 60's that states "All Vibroplex keys available for left hand operation, $2.50 extra.  Of course an Original Deluxe was $26.95!

Regards, David W2JJV
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KZ5A

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2022, 11:02:31 AM »





All of the parts except the shorting bar, the main frame with an extra hole for the LH spring tensioner, and the base are ambidextrous so to speak.   The lever on most models with pressed in trunions are ambidextrous except for the positioning of the pin.  This particular key has an ambidextrous lever as well.  So originality boils down to the base.   This base is not someones homebrew left handed base.   It is also the period correct darker than normal gray color.

73 Jack KZ5A
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KZ5A

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2022, 07:43:59 PM »



It is all original and the only differences, as I recall, is that the base is obviously reverse design, the horizontal arms on the saddle have two holes on each arm.  Normally one side has a single hole for the dit tension spring adjustment, but on the lefty model a second corresponding hole was added on the opposite side, with the original hole being filled with a chrome plated, phillips head screw.  Also the shorting switch was reversed resulting in the "bent-tip" tab being on the wrong side so the switch cannot really close properly but can be utilized when needed.  I guess they did not manufacture a "reverse" switch bar. 

This key has the fourth hole in the frame and I think that is true for all lefties.  Apparently they always start with a right handed frame and just add the extra hole.  The shorting bar on this key does not have the little bent up stop, it is just flat with no stop.

73 Jack KZ5A
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W2JJV

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Re: Left Handed WW2 #4 Blue Racer Deluxe ???
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2022, 01:34:50 PM »

So the only thing that doesn't make sense is that the mounting hole for the nameplate that is close to the center is enlarged and counterbored.  Don't know what was there but that might explain why there is no nameplate.  If they modified the standard Blue Racer and drilled out that small hole for some reason then they could not reinstall the nameplate.  Too bad they did not retain the plate....but as you said it seems like it was modified sometime during its long life.  It would be great to see a before and after picture. 

Good luck with it and enjoy it "on air". 

David
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