Key: Vibroplex Lightning Bug
Serial: 106308
Vintage: 1932
Acquired: April 27, 2026
Plate: D3 | 796 Fulton St, Brooklyn, N.Y. | 7 Patents
Base: Red enamel over black
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Review
Introduced in 1927, the seventh production Vibroplex (initially called the “#6”, oddly) introduced a few drastic changes to the semi-automatic bug. The cast frame and damper assemblies found on the previous Vibroplexes were replaced with a stamped sheet metal assembled frame and M-shaped damper and the pendulum rod was replaced with a flat bar. These new components would reemerge in 1939 on the Champion and Zephyr models.
The Lightning Bug, as it would come to be called, was first offered with a black japanned base as well as the optional nickel-plated base. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Lightning Bug could also be gotten with red, green, or blue bases. The Lightning Bug is one of only three Vibroplex bug models that ever got the Deluxe makeover, beginning in 1939.
During the Second World War, the U.S. government required rationing of certain metals, which included chromium. With a majority of chromium being used to support the country’s war efforts, manufacturers were forced to find alternatives. As a result, the Vibroplex company provided its Deluxe model bugs with a “Battleship Gray” crackle base instead of the usual chrome-plated base. These bugs would retain the same jeweled trunnion screws and bright, deluxe top parts and red finger pieces. As soon as the war ended and the rationing of goods stopped, the chrome-plated bases returned, resulting in WW2-era “Battleship Gray” deluxe models for the Original, Lightning Bug, and Blue Racer being a bit of a collector’s item.
The Lightning Bug design was cloned to make several Vibroplex and non-Vibroplex bugs. The J-36 military bug was just a Lightning Bug with a black crackle base and a different nameplate and was offered to the Signal Corps beginning in 1935 and into the early 1940s. The Lionel model train company also produced a J-36 bug for the Signal Corps.
Collectible Lightning Bugs would include early models with the colored bases. The World War II deluxe models with the Battleship Gray bases are also quite collectible.
Author’s Note: It’s not obvious what the marking 5/28/30 represents on the underside of the base of this bug. The serial number stamped on the nameplate suggests the key is from 1932. I’m also working on determining whether the red enamel is authentic. There are some peculiarities that concern me, namely the red paint marks on the contact side foot and the contact wire near it. It’s unclear to me whether Vibroplex painted these bases over the existing black finish without first removing the components or if they leff them on and these paint marks are from careless employees. I admit that I’ve not seen enough examples of the colored-base bugs to know a fake when I see it. I am hoping this is not one.
k2mas.net is not affiliated with the Vibroplex Co., Inc. “Vibroplex”, “Lightning Bug” and the bug logo are trademarks of The Vibroplex Co., Inc.
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