[ARC5] Radio Collectors, Father Time and "Basket Cases"

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 3 Jun 2013 at 19:34, David Stinson wrote:

> The debate concerns whether we will spend larger amounts of 
> our time restoring badly defaced equipment- say, an HRO Sr.
> with holes drilled in the front and brush-painted over or 
> a rusted-out Heath DX-40 - or  instead look for an example in much 
> better condition.

Hmmm...well, my situation warrants a different outlook.

> The argument is that, as collectors pass on, more "good condition"
> equipment becomes available, making the heavy work of restoring a
> "basket case" less attractive.

Well, I have never regarded myself as a "collector". First of all, I could, and 
would, never afford to buy pristine examples for a collection that none of my 
close or further relations would care about when I kick off.

Secondly, although I accumulated some fairly nice pieces over the years 
while I was working to support my family, the main reason I got those pieces 
which I did (other than those "gifted" to me) was so that when I retired I could 
tinker with them. I wouldn't necessarily restore anything I had to museum 
quality: I would restore it to working at least as well as the factory originally 
made it, but no more.

Although I really hate rust on anything, none of my pieces have much rust. 
Besides, if they are rusty, then they are parts.

> There was a time when I would expend a great deal of time
> and work on even semi-common radios.
> Today, I can't afford to invest that much time in such items.
> I don't have enough sand left in my hour glass to waste it.

Oh, with that I heartily agree! 

I am at the point now where I want to get rid of everything I can't or won't 
use, mainly so that my family won't have to be burdened with it when I am no 
longer here to play with it.

> I reserve that kind of effort for the genuinely "rare" pieces
> and the "basket-cases" are for parts only.

Well, I don't have any "genuinely rare" pieces. Any that I had in the past, I 
sold to help support my family. For instance, I had several NIB ARC-5 
receivers which I sold on eBay, and two R-389s, and two SP-600-VLF31s, 
etc.

The 5 tons of receivers I was "gifted" essentially saved our family from 
bankruptcy. All those I have left of that pile, except for one or two pieces, 
need work before they can be sold.

Much of those are simply taking up space.

But I won't waste time on basket cases either. Balancing those issues is 
difficult.

Ken W7EKB