[ARC5] "Rare" (was: Any difference in...)

[David Stinson]

From: AKLDGUY .
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Any difference in the front plugin pin out on CCT-46104

 

ARA receivers are common, but those 1.5-3.0 MC receivers are rare.

Neil ZL1ANM

---------------------------------

 

(This is just my opinion, YMMV of course.)



Respectfully-

That’s an interesting matter of perspective.  “Rare” is a subjective

term, involving matters of personal understanding and even geography.

The term gets applied so loosely it’s almost lost meaning. 


I tried to suggest an objective standard for “rare” several years ago, 

but got no traction.  I do still apply it to my writing and

understanding.  The core premise of what I called the “Scarcity Scale”

was the difficulty or ease for a collector to acquire an *intact*

(i.e. not gutted or drilled-out) example of a piece after diligent efforts

to do so.  The item’s place on the scale depended on how many 

examples were known to be available for acquisition.  i.e., 

examples in the stacks of the Smithsonian 

(where they will remain unseen until Judgment Day),

are not available to the collector, nor are they likely to ever be, 

so they are not accounted in the reckoning of “scarcity.”

 

It’s also important to carefully define the set of which we are speaking.

For example:  Someone once said that RAT sets were not “rare” because

so many of them had surfaced.  I suggested to this person (whom I

esteemed and still esteem highly) that was not a correct interpretation.

There are *four* models of radio within the designation of “RAT.”

These need to be considered individually, just as one would not class

a T-17 transmitter as “common” just because T-22s are common.

Less than 10 of each model of RAT (and RAT-1) are known to have

survived, and that makes each of them authentically “rare,”  IMHO.

The individual models of BC-348 are another good example

 

Geography is an issue as well.  What is common in North America 

can be authentically “rare” in the South Pacific.  The 8th Airforce 

modified BC-455 “Lorenz” sets are authentically rare in North America,

but not hard to find in the U.K.  A 1.5-3 MC ARA is “Scarce” in

North America, but likely “Rare” indeed in New Zealand.

 

“Each to his own lights,” of course.

 

For the sake of discussion, here is my suggested “Scarcity Scale,”

again premised on the ability of a collector to acquire an example

after diligent effort:

Extinct:  No examples of this item are known to have survived.

     i.e. RAV 9-13.5 MC receiver.

 

Unique:  Only one in existence:  A.R.C. Morgue “Circle-M,”

     proven prototypes.  These should be carefully preserved regardless

     of their modification status.  A collector may search a lifetime 

    and never acquire such a piece.

 

Rare:  Less than 10 of these items are known to have survived,

     to be in private hands and thus, may be available at some time.

     Diligent search over a period of several years may result in 

     collecting one (it has taken me 40 years to acquire one each

     of the four models of RAT).  These should also be preserved

     regardless of their modification status.  

 

Scarce:  An average one or two of these items become available

      to collectors each year.  Persistent search should reward the

      collector with an example within a year to three.

 

Common:  Multiple examples of these items surface every year.

     The collector should have no trouble acquiring an example 

     after modest effort.  i.e. unpainted  BC-45*, BC-348Q.

 

 

GL OM DE Dave AB5S

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/arc5/attachments/20170909/c420b115/attachment-0001.html>