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

[Bill Cromwell]

On 06/04/2013 12:02 PM, Kenneth G. Gordon wrote:
> One other thing I thought I should mention as I don't know how many others
> here might look on this sort of thing the same way as I do: I really love just
> working on this old gear, making it work at least as well as it did originally.
>
> After I have "fixed" a piece of gear, returning it to the condition it was in when
> it left the factory, all I want to do with it after playing with it for a day or two is
> to get rid of it, and start on another one.
>
> I don't need to keep it after that.
>
> Am I nuts or are there others out there with the same attitude?
>
> Ken W7EKB
>


Hi,

There is an element of that in my practice of the hobby. But now it's 
getting to where my "pretty" radios are needing some of the same kinds 
of TLC. The newest one is from the early 80s. Seems like yesterday but 
it's around about 30 years old now!

I have some of the "ARC-5 command" receivers here and I got most of them 
as castoffs and gave (still giving) them a new lease on life. Two or 
three of them came here as "hangar queens" from another list member for 
the cost of postage. All of those hangar queens are once again 
operational - just not as museum pieces.

I have nearly completed a project for another ham with only a power 
supply on the bench. On that one I played with some painting techniques 
and I can get the black paint looking pretty decent with cleaning and 
some fills where the paint has chipped/flaked off. When I get my own 
half dozen all pretty maybe I'll find new home for them, too. I have met 
some younger hams who have an interest in "boat anchors". I passed a 
fixed up LM along to one of them and he is *using* it.

73,

Bill  KU8H