TELEGRAPH KEY

The roaring 20's were good years for the Vibroplex line of keys.  They had no competition since they had driven everyone else out of business or bought them out. During the 20's they produced some very good hand made keys.  Around 1920 Vibroplex switched to the Bent Lug design for the Pivot.  Up till then they had used the Pinned Double Pivot, where the dash and dot arm have separate pivots.  I consider the Pinned Double Pivot a superior design -- which allowed for more controlled sending.     Unfortunately, most all other key manufacturers copied the Bent Lug design.      The Model X  is a very ingenious design but when I first tried to send with one, I found it awkward.    After it had been the market for a number of years, they came out with an improved version of the Model X (around 1920) but it was soon discontinued. The model X uses a very long dot contact assembly that is extended all the way from the rear of the dot arm. Its sort of mechanically unwiedly.   I finally took some time to fine tune a 1916 Model X that was in like new condition. But first I fitted it with an Extendadot so it could be adjusted for dots below 32wpm.  It came equipped with such a light square weight, that its slowest speed was 32wpm. It was a long process of experimenting to find how the adjustments interact and what the key was capable of.   But after a few days of experimenting I managed to adj it so that it sends perfect code from 15 to 30wpm using slide on vertical weights. I managed to get the contact spacing down to about 1/32" for the dots and I was surprised at the high quality code it produces after  its set up correctly.   I had to tighten the main spring in its mounting--  as it had worked loose slightly.  And I also had to use an added screw to tighten the 2 1/2" long dot contact assembly.    Up till then the dots it produced were unacceptable.  I also had to use a different length screw to adj the dash stop travel so it provided less travel.  After I made those mechanical updates, its now a pleasure to send with.   After you get used to the feel of a properly adjusted Model X, it sort of grows on you.  I have it equipped with slide on vertical weights so that its not necessary to move  the square weight on the dot arm.   I can understand why the Model X  lost favor with telegraphers.  It has to be in perfect adjustment in order to produce good code and not everyone would have been inclinded to spend extra time with it since the Vibroplex Original is so much easier to keep in adjustment.    Your timing has to be more controlled when using the Mod X.  And thats why the code produced by the Mod X key has a more consistant dot to dash ratio.   Another way of describing it is, the Mod X is self correcting for poor operator habits.     

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