The holy grail of CW keys?

[k7mh]

Not sure if it is the holy grail of telegraph keys or not but it must be close to it!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Holy Grail CW Key! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110175607737&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001)

[wb6mmj]

Quote[/b] (k7mh @ Oct. 04 2007,21:19)]Not sure if it is the holy grail of telegraph keys or not but it must be close to it!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Holy Grail CW Key! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110175607737&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001)
That thing is at $5,000 !!! You have to be kidding!

[M0MJH]

Could someone post a picture of this key as I can't get access to Ebay listings when I'm at work http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[2I0JVI]

Nor when I'm in school http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

73 Jonathan

[n2nh]

http://i24.tinypic.com/svnhu0.jpg

[M0MJH]

What an ugly BUGger!

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (M0MJH @ Oct. 05 2007,05:46)]What an ugly BUGger!
I thought the same thing. Can't you rent Paris Hilton for less than this?
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KC9ECI]

Quote[/b] (n2nh @ Oct. 05 2007,04:47)]Quote[/b] (M0MJH @ Oct. 05 2007,05:46)]What an ugly BUGger!
I thought the same thing. #Can't you rent Paris Hilton for less than this?
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I'd rather have the key. It's better looking, and has a purpose for existing.

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Oct. 05 2007,06:18)]Quote[/b] (n2nh @ Oct. 05 2007,04:47)]Quote[/b] (M0MJH @ Oct. 05 2007,05:46)]What an ugly BUGger!
I thought the same thing. Can't you rent Paris Hilton for less than this?
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I'd rather have the key. It's better looking, and has a purpose for existing.
Yeh, but with Paris you get a distinctive mark in an out of the way place that you can tell your grandkids about. With a key you might get Prague.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[K0RGR]

I wonder who died... it was in a private collection for over 40 years. Louise Ramsey Moreau had one of the biggest collections of telegraph keys around, but I believe she's been gone a long time.

[wc5cw]

K7MH. et al...

It's an Einstein phenomenon...That is, it's ALL relative.

Relative to your perceived value.
Relative to the depth of your pockets.
Relative to your "need to own" whatever that means.

FWIW

Bruce
WC5CW

PS: The L. R. Moreau, W3WRE (SK) key collection was donated to and is now on display at the AWA Museum in Bloomfield NY

[w3wn]

Quote[/b] (2I0JVI @ Oct. 05 2007,05:31)]Nor when I'm in school http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

73 Jonathan
Jonathan,

Enjoyed your signature. Remind me to tell you sometime about a legend that used to float about K3CR regarding an incident during the ARRL Divisision Convention that took place up there in the 1930's (during the W8YA era).

But I do have to ask you, Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

73

[w3wn]

Quote[/b] (K0RGR @ Oct. 05 2007,07:17)]I wonder who died... it was in a private collection for over 40 years. Louise Ramsey Moreau had one of the biggest collections of telegraph keys around, but I believe she's been gone a long time.
There are quite a few extensive private key collections. Many you don't hear about.

So, I'd presume that this is from a private collection being liquidated (a SK, or a family selling assets to pay for a retirement or assisted living facility, etc.). I sure hope it's not from a museum collection, but one never knows!

73

[KI4ODO]

I think the last bidder is the guy selling. It jumped from 3200 and change to 5000! I think there is some fixing going on in that bidding. But, I'm not much of an ebay guy, so that may be more normal than I think.

[kr9d]

Quote[/b] (KI4ODO @ Oct. 05 2007,10:07)]I think the last bidder is the guy selling. It jumped from 3200 and change to 5000! I think there is some fixing going on in that bidding. But, I'm not much of an ebay guy, so that may be more normal than I think.
In order for the bidding to rise that much, there would have had to be two bidders willing to pay almost that much. When you bid a very high value, Ebay steps up your bid for you to exceed any competing bid until it reaches your maximum. That way, the price paid for any Ebay auction is only a little higher than the second-highest bidder was willing to pay.

Rick "noting that the seller will have to pay Ebay a percentage of the sale, even if he is the buyer" Denney

[wa6itf]

Quote[/b] (k7mh @ Oct. 04 2007,21:19)]Not sure if it is the holy grail of telegraph keys or not but it must be close to it!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Holy Grail CW Key! (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110175607737&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001)
A far more enjoyable Holy Grail can be found at the at the Schubert Theater in NYC if you are a "Python." Its from the "Book of Idle" (Eric Idle that is). Ive seen it -- twice!

See: http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com

de
WA6ITF

[KC7UP]

Every time a stone in turned over a nut appears.
Curt

[VO1GXG]

Vertical bugs . love to have one for my shack !

[AG3Y]

Why, is your shack that crowded ?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif just pulling your chain! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[AG3Y]

If you think that is a hot item, check out the bid on a 300B audio tube ! A TUBE ! ! !

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTERN-ELECTRIC-300B-AUDIO-TUBE-NOS-PERFECT-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ110175605463QQihZ001QQcate
goryZ73381QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTERN....iewItem</a>

73, and happy bidding ! Jim

[w8znx]

Quote[/b] (VO1GXG @ Oct. 05 2007,18:20)]Vertical bugs . love to have one for my shack !
holy grail
no

holy junk

they were for crap
hard to tune
hard to use

any run of the mill speed key
was better

they only made a few
because nobody wanted them

what few were made
most went in the trash

its a collectors item
to be put in a glass case

not a useable telegraph key

to VO1GXG want a vertical bug
see http://vizkey.com

mac

[K3VR]

A good match for the Holy Yagi (http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1235373,00.html)

[WA6MHZ]

$1200 for a TUBE???!!!!!!! Holy mackeral, I have a whole box ful of tubes that look just like that!!! I can finally pay off my house and take my round the world tour on a 5 star liner!!! But most of mine say 6L6 and 5U4GB. Wonder if they are worth $1200 Each? Or Maybe 1200 LIERA (or however thats spelled!)

[n4cd]

It's a matter of rarity.

Go to Dayton and visit W1TPs flea market spot. He has several items that go for $5000 plus - including some WW2 Enigma German code machines, and some 1860s 1870s telegraph equipment.

The vertical bug is a rare Vibroplex - and some Vibroplex fanatics just have to have one in the collection.

It was used for the 'wirechief' and likely not that frequently used. It takes quite a bit of tinkering to get it to work.

However, the 'ultimate' in my book is the Melahan Valiant fully automatic bug - that makes both dits and dots with different
armatures.

http://www.zianet.com/sparks/valiantbig.html

more rare stuff at

http://www.zianet.com/sparks/otherbugs.html

Some of the first atttempts at fully automatic and bugs like the Mecograph also command thousand plus prices - although I saw one for sale for $800 recently. Didn't happen to have that much spare cash.

Of course, very few folks actually use bugs - electronic keyers are inexpensive, and built in - although some rigs let you use 'bug mode' if you want. The SKCC group and others promote straight key and bug use.

Lots of stuff at www.w1tp.com

and

http://www.telegraph-office.com/


http://w1tp.com/m8000.htm

[WA9SVD]

Quote[/b] (VO1GXG @ Oct. 05 2007,18:20)]Vertical bugs . love to have one for my shack !
But wouldn't I have to turn my radio on it's side to copy your code? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n4cd]

Quote[/b] (wa9svd @ Oct. 16 2007,05:15)][
But wouldn't I have to turn my radio on it's side to copy your code? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
No, silly

You can leave your radio as is, if the sending transmitter was flat.

You must turn your head 90 degrees or be lying down to copy the code correctly from a vertical bug.

This thread has degenerated.....

[w8znx]

Quote[/b] (n4cd @ Oct. 15 2007,12:40)]However, the 'ultimate' in my book is the Melahan Valiant fully automatic bug - that makes both dits and dots with different
armatures. #

http://www.zianet.com/sparks/valiantbig.html

more rare stuff at

http://www.zianet.com/sparks/otherbugs.html

Some of the first atttempts at fully automatic and bugs like the Mecograph also command thousand plus prices - although I saw one for sale for $800 recently. #Didn't happen to have that much spare cash.

Of course, very few folks actually use bugs - electronic keyers are inexpensive, and built in - although some rigs let you use 'bug mode' if you want. # #The SKCC group and others promote straight key and bug use. #

Lots of stuff at www.w1tp.com

and

http://www.telegraph-office.com/


http://w1tp.com/m8000.htm

electronic keyer in bug mode

is simply a pain

never sound or feel like a real bug

have you seen the GHD bugs
GN 907AP opto electric
double lever bug
only $ 1,549.95 at Morse Express

cost too much

the GN 907A standard
mechanical contact GHD double lever full auto bug
is #only $ 1,199.95

have a discontinued model
GHD opto electric bug
its one hell of a key
easy to speed up and slow down
no scratchy dits
don't need to slap it like a Vibroplex

but only use it on low voltage key lines
not about to hook it up to my cathode keyed
home brew lash ups

helm down grab your beer

mac