FA on eBay: historical VIBROPLEX Bug Morse Code Key
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3066833923

" Robin " wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3066833923

And, what kind of proof do you offer to back up your claims?

The price seems resonable. That was the deluxe model. I notice the "dah" knob
is missing. The operator probably removed it for personal reasons. The paddle
is on the opposite side, too. I wonder if the op was left-handed?

That one was made in the early 1950s, though. I got mine in about 1951 and its
s/n is 174073.

If a document came with it, certifying the mentioned history, it could be worth
much more.

I wonder if an FCC property tag is on the underside? But it was probably the
personal property of the op.

73,
Bill, K5BY

If in fact this is true it belongs in the Smithsonian not on a shelf
in someones cellar. I too would like to see proof even that it was
used by a government agency.

JEP


N8KDV wrote in message ...
" Robin " wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3066833923

And, what kind of proof do you offer to back up your claims?


--

It belonged to a relative who spent 37 years in the FBI as an radio
operator/electronics tech. This relative passed away three years ago.

He joined the US Air Force in 1952, and attended the USAF Security Service
school. There he was taught to send and receive IMC, and Soviet Union
methods of operation. He was assigned to Naknek Alaska, and intercepted
Soviet radio messages.

In 1957, he received an appointment as a Communications Specialist with the
FBI, and was assigned to Newark, NJ.

He participated in many FBI operations, such as planting listening devices
in the residences of members of organized crime in Newark; surveilance of
FALN terrorists in Puerto Rico; the capture of top-ten wanted fugitive
Thomas Manning in1986; the capture of mobster Salvator Cattone in 1989; and
the capture of members of the John Walker spy ring.

He told me the significance of this key many years ago, when I was young.
He was not a liar, so I have no reason to disbelieve him.


"JEP" wrote in message
om...
If in fact this is true it belongs in the Smithsonian not on a shelf
in someones cellar. I too would like to see proof even that it was
used by a government agency.

JEP


N8KDV wrote in message
...
" Robin " wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3066833923

And, what kind of proof do you offer to back up your claims?


--

I have a vibroplex in my basement too, one red paddle side and one
black, slightly rusted, used in my historic youth (Harrison radio
only had red replacement paddles one day). Many countries worked,
complete waste of time, looking back on it now. Not that kids had
much to do instead.
--
Ron Hardin


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.