Lionel J36 Bug Key

Ham4CW

Ham4CW

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During WW2 Vibroplex could not produce enough of the bug keys for the American military, so other manufacturers were asked to help.

One of those companies was Lionel (I seem to recall they made toy trains!), and this is their version of a Vibroplex mechanical bug, called simply the "J36".

After the war many of the radio and line telegraph operators loved their keys so much they would not be parted from them. So, in order to hide the 'identity' of the key the operators would remove the celluloid ID plate carrying the key's unique serial number!

This one however still has its plate, and carries the number 000184, so this example must have been produced very early on. I've seen serial numbers up in the 40-50,000 range.
 

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I used to have one of these and very much regret selling it. Mine was missing the label but you could buy reproduction replacements (with the wrong serial number of course.) Bunnell also made J-36 keys as did Vibroplex (it's a Lightning). The Bunnell ones seem to command high prices.

Very nice key to use. I now have a 1945 Vibroplex Original but at my speeds the J-36 was a far nicer bug to use.

Despite being a toy train maker, there is nothing wrong with Lionel's engineering. They seem to be regarded as the 'best' maker of the J-38 straight keys.
 
I've got a Vibroplex Original Presentation model here. It looks great now but when I acquired it there was a foot of dust and dirt on it.

I was told by the seller that he had purchased the key, or it had been purchased for him, as a birthday present. He said he had tried to get used to sending with it, but no matter how hard he tried he would just make mistake after mistake when sending.

So he basically threw the key on the shelf and it sat there for 10-20 years until I purchased it. There is a gold plated brass plate on the bed of the key and I had to be really careful while cleaning it so as not to remove the plating!

I'll see if I can add a photo of it soon.

The J-38 key, yup, got one here that I use on its leg mount for portable/mobile use. Found it useful for CW-Com on a laptop while outside of work on my lunch breaks. Kind of /M on 2.4GHz  ;D

73, Mark...

p.s. another bucket list key is a Vibroplex Blue Racer bd
 
G0KZZ said:
...Vibroplex Blue Racer
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I looked the Vibroplex Blue Racer up. Curiously, it seems to come in a variety of colours, not just blue. Of course, a collector would have to have the blue, but the standard chrome looks nice too. I like the compact size.
 
"It is designed for code speeds ranging from approximately 20 WPM to 50 WPM."
Not a key for me to actually use, then!
 
foggycoder said:
"It is designed for code speeds ranging from approximately 20 WPM to 50 WPM."
Not a key for me to actually use, then!
Click to expand...
You can use them, just fit a 'tamer' on the arm. There are a few different ones obtainable, but they all work on the same idea of adding more weight on to the vibrating arm of the key and/or making the arm longer.

Vibroplex make a swinging arm version called the 'vari-speed' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_BsbJHcoI4

Here's a homebrew version... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oZv9mVhBG4

These ones are made by a machinist in the States, and are quite handy in that they will fit both the round arm and the flat arm bug keys... https://www.ebay.com/itm/W8HOG-Bug-Zapper-Brass-Weight-Fits-Vibroplex-Round-Flat-X-Shaft-Keyers/161925720303?epid=881664576&hash=item25b38668ef:g:AZMAAOSw1S9WeZ6Y

The one I have is an extension arm, essentially a shaft with a coupler. Just uses a grub screw to lock it on the end of the original key arm, then you use the weight from the key on the extended section. They can really slow the key down.

Other ways are to use washers or nuts threaded on the arm, held in place with Blu-Tak or some tape.

Yet another way is to make some DIY weights. I have some fishing weights here (used for ledgering)  that I purchased from a fishing supply store. They look kind of flying saucer shaped, and what I did was drill through the centre from face to face to make a hole that would allow the weights to slide on the keys' arm. Then a made another small hole at right-angles to the first, and fitted a self tapping screw so as to lock the weight on to the arm of the key.

Most of these mod's can bring the speed down to at least 12wpm, the better mod's will drop the speed down further to maybe 8-10wpm.

They don't really damage the key, and if you decided they weren't for you then just slide the extra weight off (or remove the arm extender), and the key will be back to original form.

You do need to make sure that the key is on a level surface though, as tilting the key will alter the mark-space ratio of the dits. You can hear this phenomena even when using just the standard weights, but when the arm is extended you can REALLY hear the effect if you tilt the key.

Hope that info helps!

73, Mark...
 
All VERY interesting, so thanks for that.

So, I started on double paddles (mechanical and capacitive touch). Then I changed to a single paddle. But those Vibroplex keys look SO nice. Is there really no end to this key thing?
 
foggycoder said:
All VERY interesting, so thanks for that.

So, I started on double paddles (mechanical and capacitive touch). Then I changed to a single paddle. But those Vibroplex keys look SO nice. Is there really no end to this key thing?
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Errr, no!

I must have been collecting and 'being around' Morse Keys for perhaps 40-45 years to date, and still haven't found 'the end'.

I've got about five, sorry six bug keys. One from Eddystone, one from a French company whose name escapes me, one from Himound, one from Lionel, and two from Vibroplex. No, wait, it's seven, I also have one made by G3YUH from a patent drawing of Horace G. Martin. I tell a lie, it's eight, forgot the Bunnell Gold Bug. https://hamradioforum.com/threads/bunnell-gold-bug-morse-key.35/

Among those the Himound one is fairly handy in that out of the box they will go down to around 11-12 words per minute, and with a small chunk of Blu-Tak on the weight even slower!

It's a Himound BK-100...

The one in the video above does not have its dust cover fitted, when they are there it tends to reduce the clatter somewhat.

73, Mark...
 
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The Hi-Mound BK-100 does look practical. But all those Hi-Mound keys look plug ugly. I don't think I could bring myself to spend my hard earned cash on something as ugly as that. And I've always found the sound of "Hi-Mound" uncomfortable - I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with me on his couch!

All very subjective, of course. Some people buy kit based on its value or utility, I understand.
 
The BK-100 was around back in the 1960's, so I guess back then it would have appeared a lot cooler than it does now.

Oddly, nearly all of the Vibroplex bug keys have their design origins back in the early 1900's, so they are a very old design by comparison.

Vibroplex just threw more chrome and red plastic at them as the years went by, oh, and jewelled bearings.

I have a few bugs, but I've found the BK-100 easier to send with than the others, though maybe it's because it's more forgiving of my lack of regular practice with them.
 
Back to J-36, I use one as a main key.

I have the original label still, but it's lost a lost of details including serial number, so it now has a replacement fitted.
 

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G0KVL said:
Back to J-36, I use one as a main key.

I have the original label still, but it's lost a lost of details including serial number, so it now has a replacement fitted.
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It certainly looks like a nice clean specimen. I would like to clean and service mine but the celluloid label is so brittle/fragile I'm sure it would end up broken.

Judging by where you have the weight you must like operating around 25-30wpm? I have the weight fully back on mine but it's still too fast for my limited amount of sending practice, or at least it feels like I'm having to 'race' while using it.

You can get additional weights such as the "Bug Zapper", but I find a lump of BluTak stuck around the weight slows the key down when needed and is a lot cheaper.

The slowest one I've found so far is a Hi-Mound BK100, which goes down to maybe 10-12wpm, having said that a lot of folks do not like to the look of the key though.

73, Mark...
 
It's okay, I have seen shinier examples, the nickel plating has had its wear and tear, consequently it's looks very brass, that said I'll leave it with its 'patina'.

I still have the original label which is half the size it should be and all curled up, I took my additional weight off for the picture, I should have also removed the sponge  ::) .

You can see the weight I made from parts at work, it has tape underneath to stop abrasion on the pendulum arm.

I also had a BK-100, it was my entry into the bug world, now I'm hooked and use a bug 95% of the time, but can go onto one of my paddles when I fancy a change.

Craig
 

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I have a J36, Serial number 25243 which is in daily use.
It was given to me many (many) years ago by the late G2RT when I was an impecunious school boy who was dead keen on cw.
The original label disintegrated some years ago but I made a copy from a template I found on the internet and fixed it in it's place.
It's in need of a clean up but it works so well I don't want to disturb it.
I have more recently added a second weight to slow it down (the minimum speed on mine was more like 25wpm) but for many yeas a blob of Blu Tack did the job very well.
I also use a bit of sponge to remove the contact bounce - works very well.
I also have a Vibroplex Original Deluxe which is a nice key but I prefer the feel of the J36.
 
Nice to hear a story and a key appreciated and kept, A local friend and amateur made my labels up, he made about 5 varients, let me tell you he does outstanding work with labels, you want to see his bencher label design, it's as per original.

This came up on another forum by WA1SKQ Richard (lionel stamp.pdf) for distribution amongst J-36 users so I hope he doesn't mind.

The other (all black & white) was made by the chap as mentioned Ron G0MBV, and he doesn't mind as I've asked him.

I also have a Vibroplex Original Deluxe, but like yourself I prefer the J-36, it's a nicer key to use, jeweled movements are not required.

Craig
 

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I am new to this forum and glad I came upon it!  Am an avid cw operator.  A few years ago I was given a Lionel J36 bug, serial number 7900, and was told it was used by an older gentleman who lived in the area.  He used the bug during WW2.  He was a member of the OSS.  It is really quite nice, and I never knew Lionel made keys but now after some research I realize they did!
 
cw mo guy said:
I am new to this forum and glad I came upon it!  Am an avid cw operator.  A few years ago I was given a Lionel J36 bug, serial number 7900, and was told it was used by an older gentleman who lived in the area.  He used the bug during WW2.  He was a member of the OSS.  It is really quite nice, and I never knew Lionel made keys but now after some research I realize they did!
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Hiya, and welcome to the forum! bd

Lionel and Bunnell both became involved because Vibroplex did not have the manufacturing capabilities to meet the demands of the war. I think Lionel made model trains(?) possibly, not sure about Bunnell.

Does yours still have the celluloid label in tact? They very often either fell off after many years, or were pulled off by operators when they took the keys the home after finishing service in the forces. Mine still has its label but it's so brittle I will not risk using the key!

73, Mark...
 
I see that your label has 'shrunk' a little too, but yours looks much flatter still than mine. On mine the serial number half is flat-ish, but the the other end of the label has curled some.

I've never heard of any way to flatten them down. I guess you would have to be careful about using heat as celluloid is unstable and could explode! :o

Some times though you can end up spoiling a key if you fuss around with them too much. And once you've removed a little too much patina there is no going back... Unless you wait another 50-100 years of course! ;)

73, Mark...
 
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