[ARC5] Clarification -T22 Request for Conversion Info

[David Stinson]

Mike wrote:

> instantly transforms it from a historical artifact that is becoming
> increasingly scarce into just another 50 cent ham-hacked hamfest
> flea-market piece of junk.  This includes recapping or otherwise
> altering the original configuration in any way, even if it is so-called
> "reversible."

Obviously, I don't completely agree.  I respect Mike's viewpoint,
and I certainly think such examples have value.  But is the 
U.S.S. Constitution in Boston harbor "junk?"  How about the
battleship U.S.S. Texas?  Both have some minimal changes that
allow them to be seen and appreciated.  There's a middle ground here.

IMHO, the value in an historic artifact is only partly 
in the artifact itself.  The larger value is in the 
story and spirit of the men and women who built and used
the equipment.  For a story to have value, it must be told.
It can only be told if it holds interest.

A "dead" radio on the shelf is only interesting to a
few dedicated historians.  A "live" radio making contacts
is interesting to a range of people, who can then 
be told a story of dedication and heroism.
The question is- how can we communicate the story
without destroying the equipment?  The answer, IMHO,
is minimal, reversible changes that allow the gear 
to be used.  The challenge is learning to make 
those changes with the least impact.  For example-
I recently returned a BC-474 to the air.  A few years ago,
I might have removed the old leaky caps, discarded them
and replaced them with modern ones.  Now, I disconnect one
end of the caps, fix them in place with a dab of hot glue
and "tack" a modern cap into the circuit.  The rig works
and all the original parts are still there.  The only
things that are "unrestorable" are a few solder joints-
a small price to pay, I think.
Another is the "low B+" approach, on which I've written before.
My unmolested RATs play very well this way, and no changes
have been made, save contact cleaning.
I haven't tried this on a transmitter, but Boatanchor Bob
ran one on +24 volts and did get some power out of it, IIRC.

I can't imagine how I could communicate the history of
an artifact if I cannot even examine it (remove the bottom cover)
or experience its operation.  Museums are full of artifacts that
will never be really understood or appreciated because they
are too sacrosanct to be examined.  That's a pity.

73 Dave S.