Your Vibroplex Sliding Around on Table?

My 1939 bug was sliding all over my operating desk when I sent, even slid around on my mouse-pad I use (mouse-pad stays still, bug moved!). Those old "rubber" feet are rock hard. I got to where I was holding the bug with one hand while I sent. My solution?

Call Vibroplex to get NEW, rubber replacement feet!! Now that baby grips the desk great, no mouse-pad, it is FANTASTIC. For $6 I am really happy. Just like new.

You might consider it.

paul

 

That is an excellent suggestion!

My Vibroplex bug has the problem you described, and a set of new feet along with a general going-over to get rid of accumulated grime and dust would work wonders for the poor old thing.

 

Great Charles, so I did my good deed for the day!

paul

 

Hmmm,

Just checked the rubber feet on my Champion. Pretty good condition for 50 years old.

My trick is to rubber cement two mouse pads back to back, so the grippy sides face out. I have both the paddles and the bug on that surface, and both stay put.

73,
Bill

 

Bill, now THAT is a great trick! I used to use those rubber "shelf-liners" you get at the grocery store, but they don't work great. I like your idea, maybe for real bug "slappers" that would help too.

paul

 

My 1949 bug has been hotglued to a piece of marlite that has silicone on the bottom. It now never slides.
Curt

 

You used to be able to get typewriter platen cleaner that helped "gum up" hardened rubber. Alas, you can't get the stuff any more....dadburned greenies banned the solvents.

eric

 

Bolt it down!!!

A couple of holes in the base and some 6 inch long wood screws and that sucker will never slide again! of course, opening desk drawers might be problamatic

Minton

 

In QST during either the very late 1950s or into the 1960s there was a "Hints & Kinks" about suggestions to keep a "bug" from sliding around the table. As an "aside" one of the QST editors added his comment: "Well, we just, ummmm, errr, spit on it".

Glen, K9STH

 

My first foray into mobile CW was with an Eico 753 ('7-Drifty-3') and a Vibroplex bug.

It worked fairly well as long as I kept a hand on the VFO to keep the station I was working tuned in. However, every time I turned a corner, the bug would slide across the passenger seat and send a long string of dits. It was soon replaced with a J-38 and eventually with a keyer.