VirusPerplexed Bug Key
After making several straight keys, single leaver and dual lever paddle keys, I felt it was time to have an attempt at making a copy of the iconic VIBROPLEX bug. This innovative semi-automatic "bug" morse key was invented by Horace Martin in 1905. 115 years later, the VIBROPLEX key and company still has a world wide following among the radio amateur community.
The design of this key was based on various images of the VIBROPLEX key found on the web. There were only a few deviations made to the original key design. One of these was the use of Neodymium Magnets for the dit paddle retraction. Another was in the design of the pendulum damper.
The construction of this key proved to be a challenge. There were many individual parts to make such as thumb screws and finger lock nuts, as well as other parts that had to be turned up on the lathe. Many hours were spent on this project.
The base was made of a piece mahogany with a sheet of stainless steel on top, these being available among my odd offcuts. I already had a good stock of short lengths of brass, which I had acquired at a nominal price from a local retiring clock maker a year ago.
The wooden finger paddle and side knob were made from some very nice grained wood taken from a broken box I acquired at a boot sale. The box looks as though it had been made of a tropical/African wood which had a most beautiful patterned grain.
At this present time, the entire country is in lockdown because of the Corona Virus. We are approaching a seventh week of staying at home in order to protect the courageous and selfless NHS from being swamped by casualties of the virus. As this morse key has been made entirely during this period of isolation I thought it would be apt to call it the VirusPerplexed bug.
I have never used a VIBROPLEX key before so looked forward to trying it out. There were a few minor tweaks and contact adjustments needed to be made, however, to my great satisfaction it worked.
The key produced a good long train of dits and seemed to function the same as the VIBROPLEX key videos I had looked at on youtube. However using it was quite a different matter, it was much more difficult to operate than a paddle key and electronic keyer. I could see that getting proficient with this type of key was going to be a whole new challenge in itself.
The pictures in the following slides were taken at the various stages of its construction.
The VirusPerplexed Bug.m4vVideo of a initial quick test
News up date for this key - RSGB Constructors Competition 2020 results
See the report on page 35 of the RadCom December 2020 shown below-
In December 2020 the key was donated to the RSGB to be put up for auction for NHS Charities together during the RSGB GOTA4C campaign.
The following text appeared with the eBay auction page:
RSGB Charity Auction for NHS - Prize-winning Virus Perplexed Morse Key
This item is being auctioned for the ‘NHS Charities Together’ (registered charity no.1186569) as part of the Radio Society of Great Britain and NHS campaign 'Get on the air for Christmas' (#GOTA4C).
Roy Bailey, G0VFS who is an active member of Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club, won the Lockdown Category in the RSGB’s Annual Construction competition. He is donating his beautifully-engineered VirusPerpleXed Bug CW Key to this charity auction.
Roy says, “I chose to engrave the following inscription on the key to give a link (like a time capsule) to what has been an extraordinary and challenging time in history for us all, but most profoundly for the NHS: ‘The VirusPerpleXed Bug CW Key. This Morse key was handcrafted by G0VFS while STAYING at Home to Protect our NHS during the CoronaPandemic - Spring 2020’.
For me, the pleasure gained from having made something is at its greatest when someone else also finds pleasure in and values it.”
Both the RSGB and Roy hope that the auction will reflect well on the hobby of amateur radio and that, at this time of international crisis, the amateur radio community will once more respond by giving this auction its full support. This Morse Key is a homemade copy of the iconic VIBROPLEX bug.
This innovative, semi-automatic, Morse key was invented by Horace Martin in 1905 and is still popular among radio amateurs around the world today. There were only two deviations made to the original key design. One of these was the use of a Neodymium Magnet for the dit paddle retraction. Another was in the design of the pendulum damper. The number of thumbscrews, finger lock nuts, and other parts needing the use of Roy’s lathe made this project particularly time-consuming. The base was made from mahogany with a sheet of stainless steel on top. The wooden finger paddle and side knob were made from a very nice piece of grained wood taken from a broken box acquired at a boot sale.
This Morse key was made entirely during the COVID period of self-isolation.
-----o-----
In Conclusion
In view of the fact that this key was made during the first covid lockdown and named accordingly as mentioned earlier, It seemed only logical and fitting that the story of this key should end with it being donated for auction to give financial support to the NHS.
I would like to give a very special thank you to all at the RSGB who have been ‘key’ to organising and publicising the online auction. In addition to this, for generously match-funding the winning bid, making the final donation a significant sum for the NHS. I would also like to thank everyone who took part in the bidding, with my warmest congratulations and gratitude to the generous successful bidder.”
The key now resides somewhere in the southeast of England, and it is my sincere hope that it brings pleasure and satisfaction to its new owner for many years to come.
September 2023 Update - Key now residing at the NRC Bletchley Park
Terry Dansey - G0BIX who was successful in making the final and very generous bid, decided afterward that he would donate the VirusPerplexed Key to the NRC. The article snip taken from the RadCom November 2023, page 10 shown below gives information on this and his recent visit with his daughter to Bletchley Park and the RSGB National Radio Centre this September.
Thanks to Terry's kind donation of the key to the NRC, my humble little creation now resides in the fine company of those at the NRC, but especially the Key and radio of JY1- His late Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan.
When I set about making my copy of the Vibroplex bug key during the first COVID lockdown, I never thought in my wildest dreams that its future would end up with it being at Bletchley Park NRC and in such company.
The Gold Key of JY1- His late Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan to the left with my VirusPerplexed bug key to the right, shown here on the desk, in the office of the RSGB National Radio Center Bletchley Park.