[AMRadio] Globe Kings, value, and pricing..(was WTB: WRL Globe King 500-C (or A))

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

Prices will always fluctuate with demand, of course. Someone seems to
have touched on pretty much each part of why the GKs are desirable now.
Personally, I like the size and layout, but can't see spending a
kilobuck for one either. They did fill a need though, considering most
couldn't afford Collins gear or anything approaching that level of
quality back then.

The price of a KW-1 in 1952-53 was around $3850, probably a years pay
for most hams. Now they bring $25-$50K because so few were made(150 and
2 prototypes). Okay, so they're a really nice transmitter too,
but...$25K+??  I can't recall what the price for a Johnson desk KW was,
maybe $700-$900 in the late fifties? They seem to bring $2-6K now. I
think around 400 were made? 30K's bring a hefty price as well, the
amateur models bring a bit more perhaps because of coverage, but the
commercial 4-5 models are supposedly the rarest. I've seen these bring
$3-9K, absolutely ludicrous to me, but not someone with the money who
wants one. There's a mod 5 on epay right now that appears to have been
hacked up and half gutted, just under a kilobuck. Still, if I was in the
market for a rig to build up, I'd investigate that before a GK. It
already has a 4-250 or -400 in it as well, but half the
circuitry(channel 2 tank)is gone. Also seems to have 100THs in the mod
deck. Take a gander, Brett - see for yourself. Good that someone deemed
it worthy enough to save and use, sad that it got treated as it did.

When it comes right down to it, the prices for 'most' vintage gear today
is pretty reasonable in comparison to the amount of ricebox and sand
you'd get for the same money. R-390*s bring $200-$500 on average in good
shape, but anyone who has owned or seen one in top form would have to
admit that next to the typical Yaecomwood it's just no comparison for
materials and quality. It all comes down to what you want a radio for,
really.  Some prefer plug-n-play, many of us prefer twiddling knobs and
operating the radio ourselves. One thing is for sure - tubes, caps, and
resistors are still a lot easier(and cheaper) to get and install than
firmware. Somewhere down the line you won't be able to get a new
processor for that whizbang box and you'll be left with a pretty
doorstop. One thing to be said for old gear overall is that a lot of it
was made, for a lot of reasons. Plenty of interchangability, too. Not
even sure if you could swap a knob from a Yaesu to an Icom.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ

Brett Gazdzinski wrote:

<snip>

> Still, the $1000.00 globe kings are starting to sound like a
> bargain.
> I think you could home brew something nice much cheaper,
> but if you don't build, the old stuff is expensive.
>
> Its just so hard for me to come to grips with the prices
> these days.
> I got my Collins 30k1 for $200.00, with lots of extra goodies.
> I guess I got about $2000.00 for it a few years ago....
>
> How long before my $10.00 dx100 is worth $1000.00?
> I better get that thing working!
>
> Brett
> N2DTS