History of the Vibroplex

 

Since 1890

 

One of the most dramatic chapters in the world history began with the invention

of the telegraph. It brought to fruition a dream which men had been trying to

realize for more then 3,000 years. Its glory is reflected in the march of civilization

since its invention.

 

For the first hunderd or so years there was something indivual about the telegrapher,

he had to master the morse code. Just everyone didn't have the aptitude for learning

it, and this place him in category all his own. Dedicated to his chosen profession, his

aim was to "get the message through."

 

However the early telegraph keys used to send messages caused severe strain on

the telegrapher's wrist --- a condition now known as carpal tunnel syndrome or

glass arm in the early days of the telegraph.

 

In 1902, Inventor Horace G. Martin patented the first in a line of devices which

solved this problem: the Martin Autoplex, an electro-mechanical sending device

which required batteries.

 

Two years later, Martin went into business with a group of entrepreneurs,

forming the United Electical Manufacturing company. It was also in 1904 that

Martin filed his second patent for a new sending device which used a weighted,

vibrating arm and did not require the use of a magnetic coil or batteries. This

device was the bases for the first Vibroplex.

 

In 1908, the association between Martin and U.E.M. ended, when it went

out of business. However J.E. Albright, who began a business catering to the

telegraph industry in 1890, began marketing the Vibroplex for Martin. On March

12, 1915, Albright filed a certificate of incorporation in New York for the

Vibroplex Company, Inc. Within a short years, Vibroplex came to represent

the best of the telegraphic, and later amateur radio, industry.

 

The Story Of The "Bug" Semi-automatic Key

 

In the early days a poor telegrapher was called a "bug". and some operators

bought a key from Vibroplex and other company's and starting using them without

practice. The result was poor sending, and the keys themselves became know as

"bugs". The Vibroplex Company registered the word "bug" as a trademark for its

semi-automatic keys in the early 1920's, which continues to this day.

 

 

 

 

The Vibroplex Company Inc.

 

Internet Web Site: http://www.vibroplex.com