In article , "Kim"
writes:

Just in case "Santa" observes this newsgroup, he may be wondering about
Christmas desires! Anyone have that special piece of equipment they are
hoping for?

Great question, Kim!

At this point in time I'm more focused on reducing inventory, so ham gear isn't
high on the list.

But it wasn't always that way, and therein lies a tale....

For the first 7 years of my ham career, I used a straight key *only*. Bugs and
keyers were simply too expensive for me at the time, and you didn't find them
at the curb on trash day or behind the TV repair shops....

Somewhere in there I learned to use a bug - probably Field Day 1970 or so. And
somewhere in there my family got the hint and for Christmas 1974 everybody
chipped in for a brand new Vibroplex Original. Standard model, no fancy chrome
or gold base or any of those doodads.

That bug has been my primary key ever since. Been on every operating desk and
hooked to every CW rig I've had since. Still works as well as new. I don't even
want to think about how many QSOs it has done in almost 30 years. Still have
the J-37 straight key, and it still gets used now and again. Almost nothing of
my 1974 station remains as it was then, except those keys.

I also have nice keyer paddle, which I am still learning to use - left handed.

A dozen or more years ago I had a Zephyr for a while, but sold it to a
collector. Since then, have acquired three more bugs, all Vibroplex, all
painted-base. None of them are quite like my 1974 model.

Anybody else have a similar story?

73 de Jim, N2EY