[ARC5] Attitudes toward the value of old military radios

[D. Platt]

As Hank Hill says on "King of the Hill"....."yup!"   I have to fall in 
line with the gang, here.  I just got done with three BC-348's, here on 
the bench.  I noticed that the nomenclature tags show birth dates about 
equal to mine.  The thing is, albeit they've been re-capped and such, 
they will be around in another 72 years, God willing, and the next 
string of owners doesn't send them to a landfill.  If they're still 
here, they'll still play.  On another point made, I'm the guilty party 
who did the 2008 /ER/ article about the relative bargains of 
yesteryear.  A 1947 Radio Shack ad had complete.....complete, 
gentlemen...  SCR-274-N systems for well under $100.  The current price 
would be $390.  The BC-221 frequency meter would go today for $388.  The 
$78 BC-348?  It would sell for about $486.  As I mentioned in the 
article, however, the stuff was absolutely complete and in as-new 
condition, mostly.  One can't often find that kind of gear, although I 
did find a NIB ART-13 a few years ago (Thanks Stew!!)  One last point, 
if you'll allow, is to say that the new $9000 Yaesu FT-100000 with 35 
filters, 128-bit DSP processor, and patented bean-washer won't do spit 
better that an old Kenwood TS-830 in most real conditions.  Likewise our 
old MIL gear, when properly utilized.  But, its all in what /you/ want 
to do with /your/ time and money.

Jeep - K3HVG