Bug ID

[k6dgw]

With the long (and somewhat forked) thread on SKN, I'm hoping someone
can lay a small uncertainty in my mind to rest:

Many years ago, around the time that Marconi was still in short pants,
and I was about 15 (I did not ever date Marconi's sister since radio
nerds didn't do much dating), I saved some money and purchased a very
proletarian-looking WW2 bug at Sam's Surplus Sales on Pico Blvd in Los
Angeles.  I think I might have paid $6.00 or so for it.  It had a
painted black base, a somewhat more angular frame than a Vibroplex, a
few spots of peeling chrome plate, three or four rubber feet, and the
metal tag on it said it was manufactured by Lionel (of model train fame,
I assumed).  For some reason, I thought it was a "Key, Radiotelegraph,
Semiautomatic -- J-36".

I used it as a senior in HS when I had a job as a relief operator at a
coastal marine station.  It disappeared in Korat Thailand after I had
had a 6-week run as HS1FJ and then got redeployed on very short notice
to a new team near Da Nang in the mid-60's.  I liked it better than any
Vibroplex because I could actually get the dot speed down to match my
sending speed without a string of alligator clips on the armature.
Someone in the SKN thread mentioned the J-36 as a straight key and I'm
wondering if anyone knows what the nomenclature for my Lionel bug was.
I wouldn't mind finding one to buy too.

Merry Christmas to all, I'll probably get some time in on SKN with my
K2/100.

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA CM98lw
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[Vic K2VCO]

Fred Jensen wrote:

> Someone in the SKN thread mentioned the J-36 as a straight key and I'm
> wondering if anyone knows what the nomenclature for my Lionel bug was. I
> wouldn't mind finding one to buy too.

The J-36 *is* a bug.  Many were manufactured by Lionel during WWII, and
several other manufacturers, including Vibroplex.  They are based on the
Vibroplex "Lightning Bug" design.  I'm lucky enough to have a really
nice one which is my favorite bug.

They are pretty common.  If you aren't a collector and are interested in
a bug to operate, the J-36 and Vibroplex Lightning Bug and Champion all
have the same construction and are excellent bugs.  The J-37, J-38, and
J-47 (and who knows how many more) were straight keys.

--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
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[N2EY]

 
-----Original Message-----
From: Vic K2VCO <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:25:39 -0800
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Bug ID


>the J-36 and Vibroplex Lightning Bug and Champion all have the same construction and are excellent bugs.
 
 
They're all excellent, but not exactly identical.
 
Lightning Bug came first, with the rectangular arm and multipiece trunion.
 
J-36 is a military version, often made by Lionel.
 
Champion came post WW2, and uses a simpler shock absorber. Low-cost
version of the Lightning Bug.
 
Then there's the Zephyr, which is a Lightning Bug on a narrow base.
 
---
 
The narrow-base bugs (Zephyr and Blue Racer) were supposedly prized because they take up a few less
square inches of desk space. I never liked them because they weigh less and you wind up chasing the dern
thing all over the desk.
 
73 de Jim, N2EY
 
(personally I prefer the Original. But then again, I prefer the painted Standard ("Bailey") versions
to the gaudy plated Deluxe and Presentation ("Jennifer") models.
 
 
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