Key: Vibroplex Model X
Serial: 59857
Vintage: 1917
Acquired: April 14, 2026
Plate: C1 | 253 Broadway N.Y. | 5 Patents – Last 1,043,449
Base: Black Japan
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Review
With a radical diversion from what came before, in 1911 Horace Martin devised a single-contact semi-automatic bug when he produced the Model X. All told, there were several revisions of the Model X with the earliest appearing around 1911. Earlier versions consisted of an assembled main frame affixed to the top of a small metal plate, a square pendulum rod, a single contact at the end of a flexible metal reed, and a funky dash lever while later “improved” variations did away with the small metal plate base for the frame and swapped the square pendulum rod for a round one. The Model X utilized a T-shaped damper assembly, which has also be found on some other Vibroplex models such as the Blue Racer and early Originals. The “Improved” late-model Model X bugs used a variation of the T-damper with a thumb screw inserted into a post. No damper wheel was used for those.
The Model X came in the typical base finishes of the time period, black japanned or nickel-plated.
All Model X examples are considered collectible and the model is considered the fourth most scarce of the Vibroplexes, behind the Upright, Midget, and Double Lever. Older is certainly more collectible when found in good shape. Though with the Model X, the late-model versions with the round pendulum rods may be more desirable due to their greater scarcity. If you find a Model X and can afford the asking price, you should get it into your collection.
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