The J-36 Key Census Project

The J-36 Bug Census Project
Updated Jan 15, 2007 - Census table at bottom of page

This page has been created to gather information on existing Signal Corp J-36 bug type telegraph keys, in order to calculate estimated production numbers of the various manufacturers and orders.

If you have a J-36, be it manufactured by Vibroplex, Bunnell, Lionel, or Brooklyn Metal Stamping Co. (scarce), or know of anyone in your radio club or community that may have one, I want to hear from you!

What Information Do I Need?

The information required is located on most of the nameplates. This consists of:

Manufacturer - Vibroplex, Bunnell, Lionel, or Brooklyn Metal Stamping (BMS).

Order No. - Will look something like this - 21984-Phila-42.

Date - Something like 6-27-42.

Serial No.

And any other distinguishing or unusual markings.

Optional - A .JPG photo of the nameplate and/or entire bug.

It is assumed that Lionel J-36 bugs have an order number of 7861-Phila-43 and a date of 1942, but please double check to make sure your Lionel has this order number.
It is also assumed that Bunnells have the order number of 6001-Phila-43 and a date of 8-4-42, but again, please verify this on your Bunnells.

Your particular bug may not have all of this information on it. Most Lionels no longer have their original nameplates, or reproductions have been applied in their place. If so, please state that it is indeed a repro plate. There are some Vibroplex transitional variants that have no stamped numbers - please let me know if that is the case. The author is aware of the various order numbers, and dates that correspond to them. But please include all the information so as to maintain the accuracy of this census. Basically, the more descriptive you are, the better.
Put all of this information in an email, along with .JPG photos, if possible, and send to this email address:

I will then place all data in a master database. I'll periodically post the breakdown of manufacturers, order numbers, and highest serial numbers found here at this web site.

My thanks go out to Paul, K4MSG, for his excellent research article in the July 1998 issue of the Vail Correspondent, as well as Yann, F5LAW, Mitch, W4OA, Lynn, N7CFO, Tony, WA4JQS, the Morsecode and CW qth.net mailing lists, and all of those who have so far contributed data to this project.

J-36 Census Numbers - Jan 15, 2007
Manufacturer	Contract Number & Plate Date	Highest reported serial #	Total
Brooklyn Metal Stamping	3773-NY-30 (6-10-30)	4	4
The Vibroplex Co, Inc.	11210-NY-36 (?)	14
	13291-NY-37 (10-29-36)	90
	13374-NY-37 (?)	65
	15492-NY-38 (12-15-37)	28
	1025-NY-40 (11-17-39)	159
	2844-NY-40 (5-4-40)	378
	1456-NY-41 (10-28-40)	567
	5702-NY-41 (6-6-41)	1926
	4968-SF-42 (6-9-42)	77
	9054-PHILA-42 (3-17-42)	530
	9910-PHILA-42 (?)	724
	21984-PHILA-42 (6-27-42)	2379
	2665-PDP-43 (11-1-42)	83
	8634-WF-43 (12-31-42)	285
	10647-WF-43 (1-29-43)	208	7513
J.H. Bunnell & Co.	6001-PHILA-43 (8-4-42)	5515	5515
The Lionel Corp.	7861-PHILA-43 (1942)	26519	26519

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