[AMRadio] River Radio and getting fired up.

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

Jim Isbell wrote:

>
> As to the second part of the message, I posted the URL of an ad on 
> E-Bay where a guy is selling copies of manuals (in this case the B&K 
> 747 tube tester) that he apparently downloads from the BAMA site where 
> they are available for FREE to anyone who wants them.  I find this 
> objectionable because the people who post manuals there and the 
> operators of that site do it as a FREE public service to Hams and 
> others.  The first page of the manuals explains the free service and I 
> will just about bet that this guy removes that page so as to keep the 
> buyer innocent.


There was a guy in Michigan who tried this with the R-390 Y2K manual a 
year or so back. Many contributors gave their time, expertise, and 
effort to put together a User's tech and resource manual based on the 
R-390A, with notes and other updates added as well as panel painting 
tips and the rest. This manaul was provided free for download to anyone 
interested. Unfortunately this slimebag decided he'd download it and add 
it to a CD of other R-390 stuff he was scamming, then sell it. 
Fortunately the work was copywritten and when faced with possible legal 
action, he stopped. Wondr if it's the same idiot trying to make money of 
someone else's work on the BAMA site now? If there was ever a candidate 
for a blanket party, he's it IMHO. I suspect he reads these lists too, 
since he ended up with the manual not long after it was posted here.

Wonder if Ken could find a way to watermark the pages with 'BAMA FREE 
DOWNLOAD, NOT FOR RESALE'? There are certainly products out there that 
will let you do this, easily. Of course 'easily' is very subjective when 
applied to all of those online manuals.

As far as the River Radio crap, it wouldn't be hard for someone to use 
this as a means of gaining equipment by either downrating it or charging 
such a fee that the gear would have to be offered to cover the cost of 
the appraisal. I've seen a lot of gear on ebay lately and some at a 
recent fest, being sold to settle an estate. I don't think that the SK's 
ham friends are anywhere near the issue of being vultures that someone 
who has a commercial interest involved or is otherwise 'in it for the 
money' would potentially be. Even the 'uneducated' (in terms of old 
gear) friends seem smart enough to list on ebay if nothing else, and let 
the bidders decide what an item is worth. Certainly a better proposition 
than someone's opinion, generally speaking. After all, someone can say 
that a piece of gear is worth x amount of dollars, but if no one is 
willing to pay that amount, is it really?

There are obviously crooks in the ham and vintage radio community in 
general. The trick is to identify them and make others AWARE of their 
deeds rather than to paint all hams or all friends of SKs in the same 
vague way, with the same brush. Think about it...what qualifications 
does this guy offer, what credentials does he carry that make him 
qualified as a definitive source for determining a fair and accurate 
price? What mechanism is in place to keep him honest? How does this make 
him (potentially) any different than any other "vulture" out there? 
Because he says so? Because he runs and ad and calls it a business? He 
could be the greatest, most honest guy in the world or a devious crook, 
but how would we know?

The long and the short of it is this: DON'T leave it to your family or 
others, do it yourself *NOW*, while you can. At the very least, keep a 
list of friends you know well and who's judgement you trust, and let it 
be known to contact them when you leave for that 'GREAT DXPEDITION in 
the SKY' or however Mr River Radio put it. I have a list of three names 
hanging from akitchen cabinet with their names, addresses, and 
callsigns. At the top it says 'Radio Help' and I've informed those who 
need to know that these are the ones to contact in the event of my 
demise. Someday I might even find time to list my gear and make up a 
rough evaluation for such purposes. In the meantime, I have three people 
I can trust to look out for my old radio gear. I've put too much time 
into locating and restoring it to let it go into a yardsale or worse - 
to the town dump.

It's a simple thing to make up a list of friends to help, but put some 
thought into it. My list includes my best friend for years (I'm actually 
his elmer), who is a contester and could care less about old gear - but 
he's sharp as a tack and good organizationally. Second is a friend who 
is into AM and vintage gear overall and very organized as well. Third is 
a Collins nut who has bought, sold, and traded for years, and is very 
experienced with ebay and overall market values for old gear. Between 
the three of them (all three must work together on it), the gear will be 
dispersed for a fair price and my family won't have to be hassled by it. 
It's a reciprocal deal too - I'll do the same for them, if needed.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ