Vibroplex key circa 1916

Today I went to a final sale from an estate sale company that seems to be getting out of the business of buying out estates.  There I found this morse code key, and the accompanying receiver.  I asked what they wanted for it and was told $5.  Needless to say I wasted no time buying it.




I later found it is a Vibroplex Original made in 1916 (per the serial number).  

Mind you, I have no use for a key of this sort, but I am intrigued by old things.

Nice!

I am a Ham an have very occasionally used a semi-auto key...

That is about the oldest one I have seen...

Great to get them in the "raw", free of over zealous cleaning...

I found most of mine at Ham estates and Ham flea markets. I would not, ever, pay the high prices asked outside of those two venues.

I have a McElroy, a Vibroplex chrome champion with the carrying case, a Lionel, a Lafayette and a couple of others.

I know it's a little off topic, but today was the final day of that final sale, and they had everything marked down 80%.  So today I bought a Peterson Strobe Tuner model 400 (for tuning guitars) for 40 cents (plus tax).  I also got a Grindmaster 495 retail coffee grinder for $100.  

I love going out of business type sales.